Independent Nurse: Practical Prescribing
August 21, 2009 by admin
I have worked in general practice for 20 years and see many patients with diabetes and asthma. The doctors in the practice insist that they sign prescriptions for black triangle drugs. Is this right?
Many of the patients I see are on these drugs with a black triangle. If these medicines are within my area of competence, surely I should be able to prescribe them?
To read the response to this question, click here.
“Discrepancy” between nurses and pharmacists on controlled drugs
August 14, 2009 by admin
Pharmacist independent prescribers should be able to prescribe controlled drugs in the same ways that nurse independent prescribers do, according to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB).
In its submission to the Prime Minister’s Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery, the RPSGB says that the discrepancy disadvantages many patients and also calls for both nurse and pharmacist independent prescribers to prescribe an unrestricted range of controlled drugs. It points out that, at present, pharmacist independent prescribers cannot prescribe controlled drugs even though some are included as ingredients in over-the-counter medicines.
Extending non-medical prescribing
August 14, 2009 by admin
Independent prescribing should be extended to physiotherapists and podiatrists, according to the conclusions of a Department of Health scoping project report on the allied health professions and medicines supply mechanisms. The report says that quality of care is compromised by the limitations of the current system and considers the case for change in existing arrangements for each profession.
It recommends that supplementary prescribing by dietitians is established and a specific list of potential exemptions for them be considered, and that a specific list of exemptions for orthoptists is established.
Although there is some evidence supporting a progression to independent prescribing for radiographers it is less strong than for physiotherapists and podiatrists and further work may be needed to consider the need for this, along with the possible need for supplementary prescribing by speech and language therapists, orthoptists and occupational therapists.
Support for coordinated research into the impact of prescribing by allied health professionals on patients, services and prescribing trends should also be considered, although the report is clear that this should not delay change. It also says that the incremental approach - moving from supplementary to independent prescribing that has been adopted so far (although not for nurses) - should be continued.
‘Cocktail of medicine’ taken by some older people
August 14, 2009 by admin
Some older people are taking a ‘cocktail of medicine’ without fully understanding what the medicines are or what side effects they cause, according to a survey by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB).
According to the RPSGB, 43% of people over 65 take more than five medicines at any one time, with 20% saying they do not always take the medicine as prescribed, 60% saying they definitely or possibly have had a side effect, 9% saying they do not fully understand their medications or how they treat their conditions, and 14% saying they sometimes forget to take a pill at the recommended time.
The RPSGB has launched a campaign to persuade older people to visit their local pharmacist for a medication use review (MUR).
NICE proposes new QOF indicators for diabetes, epilepsy, learning disability
August 14, 2009 by admin
On 10 August, NICE published its first recommendations for changes to the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), listing potential new indicators for epilepsy, diabetes and learning disability in its ‘menu’. The menu can be found here and recommendations for indicators that could be retired here.
These are the first potential indicators to be produced since NICE took over the process in April this year. These indicators will be discussed in negotiations between NHS Employers and the British Medical Association about the QOF for 2010/2011.
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