Non-medical prescribing
Non-medical prescribing (NMP) refers to any prescribing provided by healthcare professionals other than doctors or dentists. A range of professionals can qualify to be a non-medical prescriber (NMP) although there may be restrictions on what they can prescribe and the terms under which a prescription can be provided.
The following professional groups can become NMPs
- Nurses / Midwives
- Pharmacists
- Physiotherapists
- Podiatrists
- Paramedics
- Optometrists
- Therapeutic radiographers
- Diagnostic radiographers
- Dietitians
Supplementary prescribing |
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Supplementary prescribing is defined as “A voluntary partnership between a doctor or dentist and supplementary prescriber, to prescribe within an agreed patient-specific clinical management plan (CMP) with the patient's agreement”. Currently, nurses, midwives, optometrists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, radiographers, paramedics, and dietitians may become supplementary prescribers. Once qualified, they may prescribe any medicine (including Schedule 2-5 controlled drugs but excluding diamorphine, cocaine and dipipanone for treatment of substance misuse) within their clinical competence and according to the CMP. |
Independent prescribing |
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*Royal Pharmaceutical Society. A Competency Framework for all Prescribers. Effective: September 2022. https://www.rpharms.com/resources/frameworks/prescribing-competency-framework/competency-framework (Accessed: October 2023)
Further Reading
- Royal Pharmaceutical Society. A competency framework for all prescribers. Effective September 2022. Available from: https://www.rpharms.com/resources/frameworks/prescribing-competency-framework/competency-framework (Accessed October 2023)
- Community Pharmacy England. Who can prescribe what? Updated 10th November 2022. https://cpe.org.uk/dispensing-and-supply/prescription-processing/receiving-a-prescription/who-can-prescribe-what/ Accessed October 2023
- Charted Society of Physiotherapists. Practice guidance for physiotherapist supplementary and/or independent prescribers in the safe use of medicines. (4th edition) November 2018, updated February 2021. https://www.csp.org.uk/system/files/publication_files/PD026_PracticeGuidancePrescribing_4thEd_2018.pdf (accessed October 2023)
- Department of Health. Improving patients’ access to medicines: a guide to implementing nurse and pharmacist independent prescribing within the NHS in England. 2006.
- Bruhn H, Bond CM, Elliott AM, et al Pharmacist-led management of chronic pain in primary care: results from a randomised controlled exploratory trial BMJ Open 2013;3: e002361. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-002361
- Latter S, Blenkinsopp A, Smith A, et al. Evaluation of nurse and pharmacist prescribing. Department of Health Policy Research Programme Project 016 0108. 2010.
- Graham-Clarke E, Rushton A, Noblet T, Marriott J (2019) Non-medical prescribing in the United Kingdom National Health Service: A systematic policy review. PLoS ONE 14(7): e0214630. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0214630
- Eve Collyer Merrit. Expanding the use of controlled drugs in healthcare. 3 August 2023. https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/expanding-the-use-of-controlled-drugs-in-healthcare/ (Accessed October 2023)
- Stenner K, Carey N, Courtenay M. Prescribing for pain - how do nurses contribute? A national questionnaire survey. Journal of Clinical Nursing 2012; 21: 3335–3345.
- Stenner KL, Courtenay M, Cannons K. Nurse prescribing for inpatient pain in the United Kingdom: a national questionnaire survey. International Journal for Nursing Studies 2011; 48: 847-855.