Framework for independent prescribing published by NPC
 A new competency framework for prescribing pharmacists has been developed by the National Prescribing Centre, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the Department of Health and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
The document updates the framework for supplementary prescribers that
was published in 2003. The new framework includes additional and modified
competencies for supplementary prescribers, as well as new information
for independent prescribers. Three areas of competency are set out — consultation,
prescribing effectively and prescribing in context — with each
area containing three competencies. Each competency has an overarching
statement describing what it is about and a number of criteria that pharmacists
who have achieved that competency will be able to demonstrate, both during
initial training and in their practice.
As well as helping to ensure that pharmacist prescribers possess the
relevant competencies to undertake supplementary or independent prescribing,
the document is intended to be used to inform the commissioning and development
of education and training programmes for pharmacist prescribers. The
framework is also designed to support individual pharmacists’ continuing
professional development, by guiding reflective practice. It also provides
support for recruitment and selection procedures, as well as the appraisal
process.
The new prescribing framework (PDF 160K) should
be read in conjunction with the clinical governance framework, published
by the Society last
year (PDF 170K).
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Hospital Pharmacist