The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7258 p74
19 July 2003

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Consultation letter (PDF 150K)
Home Office (www.homeoffice.gov.uk)

Proposals could allow supplementary prescribing of Controlled Drugs

Supplementary prescribers could be able to prescribe Controlled Drugs if Government proposals are accepted.

The Home Office is seeking views on the proposal to amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. The change would give pharmacists and nurses who are trained as supplementary prescribers the authority to prescribe Controlled Drugs under a clinical management plan.

The amendment would apply to all Controlled Drugs, except those listed in Schedule 1 of the 2001 Regulations which are not intended for medicinal use.

Prescribing of Controlled Drugs to addicts would still be subject to separate regulations. Cocaine, diamorphine and dipipanone could only be prescribed to addicts if both the independent and supplementary prescriber had a licence from the Home Office.

"This initiative to extend supplementary prescribing to Controlled Drugs is part of the Government's plans for modernising the National Health Service. The aim is to improve patient care by providing quicker and more efficient access to medicines (but with appropriate safeguards to prevent misuse) and to make better use of professional skills," the Home Office says.

The proposals have been considered by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which is happy with the change. In addition, the Home Office Drugs Inspectorate is satisfied that the requirements for supplementary prescribing are tight and that there is little scope to allow Controlled Drugs to be diverted for illegal use.

The Government plans to implement the proposed legislation change in early 2004. It would have effect in England, Wales and Scotland.

Comments on the proposals should be sent by 12 September to Naim Siddiqui, Drug Legislation and Enforcement Unit, Home Office, Room 243, 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AT (e-mail Naim.Siddiqui@homeofffice.gsi.gov.uk, tel 020 7273 3474).

The consultation letter is available as a PDF file (150K).

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