GPs worried about independent prescribing by pharmacists
Doctors believe that independent prescribing by nurses and pharmacists puts patients at risk, according to a poll in GP newspaper Pulse.
The poll found that 89 per cent of 323 respondent GPs think that controls
over the new roles are insufficient to protect patients.
Commenting on the finding, the chairman of the Royal College of General
Practitioners, Mayur Lakhani, said: “We share the concerns of the
doctors quoted as being worried by the extension of prescribing. The
prescription of medicines is a highly complex activity that can be associated
with considerable risks to patients and patient safety is our top priority.
“We welcome team working but would like to see stronger regulatory
and clinical governance arrangements in place regarding independent prescribers.
The roles of nurses and pharmacists seem to be expanding very quickly
but should not be seen as a replacement for GPs. There should be pilots
and formal evaluation.”
Defending independent prescribing by pharmacists, David Pruce, director
of practice and quality improvement at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society,
pointed out that no profession other than pharmacy has a clinical governance
framework for prescribing.
He said: “The RPSGB recently launched a curriculum for the training
of independent pharmacist prescribers and pharmacy is the only profession
to have developed a clinical governance framework for prescribers.”
Mr Pruce added that people could be sure that when independent prescribing
is in place it will be undertaken within appropriate guidelines and practice
frameworks. |
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