Independent prescribing by pharmacists may start in Scotland in November
Independent prescribing by pharmacists in Scotland is expected to be
permitted at the end of November, providing further legislation is
introduced in time.
Last week, new NHS regulations on prescription charges were published
which include a definition of “pharmacist independent prescriber”.
An accompanying NHS circular (PDF 85K)
explains that this definition will “provide
for pharmacist independent prescribing in NHS Scotland with effect from 30 November
2007”.
The next stage is for the Scottish Government to publish guidance on how independent
prescribing should be implemented.
Alison Strath, principal pharmaceutical officer, Scottish Government, explained: “This
definition [of pharmacist independent prescriber, PIP] is required in the charges
regulations in order to allow a charge to be levied, or not, against a prescription
written by
a PIP. We are currently drafting the regulations to introduce the legislative
basis for pharmacist independent prescribing in
primary care.”
The circular also hints at how independent prescribing is expected to work. It
states
that the intention is for pharmacists to provide prescribing services in two
types of clinic.
First, those covering specific medical conditions into which patients could self
refer or be referred by health professionals. Second, clinics for patients with
complex therapeutic needs. It adds that PIPs will be able to prescribe any licensed
medicine (except Controlled Drugs) within their clinical competence.
The definition states that a PIP must be a registered pharmacist whose name is
annotated in the register as an independent prescriber.
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