This document provides information about a non-medical prescribing course, including which allied health professionals are eligible and its structure. The course aims to qualify nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, podiatrists, chiropodists and radiographers as independent and/or supplementary prescribers. It is delivered over 26 days of taught content and 12 days of practice learning. Assessment includes a exam and portfolio demonstrating competence in prescribing practices. The document also discusses updates to prescribing competency frameworks and proposals to expand prescribing rights to radiographers and paramedics.

1. Non Medical Prescribing

2. Non Medical Prescribing
• Following legislation in 2013 allied health
professionals can also qualify and register with
the HCPC as Independent and Supplementary
prescribers (Physiotherapists, Podiatrists and
Chiropodists). Radiographers who complete the
course qualify as Supplementary prescribers
only. This course can qualify nurses and
midwives to register with MNC as Independent
and Supplementary prescribers.

3. Non Medical Prescribing
 This course aims to prepare practitioners as Independent and/or
Supplementary Prescribers in accordance with the appropriate
Professional Regulatory Body( Nursing and Midwifery Council, and
Health and Care Professions Council) guidance.
 The benefits to the student of completing this course is that it will
allow them to use their skills, knowledge and experience to its full
extent for the benefit of patients. Non-medical prescribing is a key
qualification needed for anyone wanting to become an advanced
practitioner / operate in an advanced practice role.

4. Non Medical Prescribing
The course is for:
 Nurses and midwifes working in advanced
practice roles. Physiotherapists, Podiatrists,
Chiropodists, Radiographers working in advanced
practice roles
 The course will help improve patients access to
medicines and in so doing will help to reduce
waiting times and delays. This should lead to
greater service efficiency and a better patient
experience.

5. Non Medical Prescribing
• 26 days taught content delivered at SHU
• Stimulating /relevant sessions delivered by a variety of
external speakers
• 12 days (90hrs practice learning)
• Delivered at Level 6 and 7
• Approved by NMC and HCPC
• Well subscribed
• Evaluates very well
• Vast majority of students are nurses

6. Regulatory body requirements

7. Non Medical Prescribing
Philosophy of the course
The extensions to Non-medical Prescribing within the National Health Service (NHS)
represents a significant opportunity for nurses, pharmacists and other Allied Health
Professionals to contribute to the modernisation agenda, as initially identified in the NHS Plan
(DoH 2001) and developed throughout subsequent policy documents including:
 Choosing Health: Making healthy choices easier (DoH 2004)
 The NHS Improvement Plan: Putting people at the heart of public services (DoH 2004)
 Creating a patient-led NHS: Delivering the NHS Improvement Plan (DoH 2005)
 The NHS in England: operating framework for 2007-08 (DoH 2006)
 High Quality Care for All: NHS Next Stage Review (Darzi 2008)
 Making the Connections: using healthcare professionals to deliver organisational
improvements (DoH 2009, 2010)
 Liberating the NHS (DoH 2012)

8. Non Medical Prescribing
Learning Outcomes
By engaging successfully with this course a student will be able to:
 Undertake effective history taking, consultation and physical assessment skills with
patients, clients and carers, including medication history and current medication (including
over the counter alternative and complementary health therapies), to inform accurate
diagnosis
 Critically evaluate safe, appropriate and cost effective prescribing practice, in partnership
with Independent prescribers and the wider care team, including accurate record keeping
in the context of medicines management
 Reflect upon aspects of the law and the professional framework of accountability relevant
to the practice of independent and supplementary prescribing, including the prescribing of
unlicensed medicines

9. Non Medical Prescribing
 Identify and use sources of information, advice and decision support systems which underpin the practise
of independent prescribing, and communicate the ethical management of influences on prescribing
practice

 Utilise knowledge of pharmacology to explain pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in relation to the
disease process and apply to the monitoring of response to medicines, treatment modification and
referral

 Critically evaluate the roles and relationships of others involved in prescribing, supplying and
administering medicines and develop and document a clinical management plan (CMP) within the
context of a prescribing partnership
 Practice within a framework of professional accountability and responsibility and critically reflect upon the
importance of continuing professional development
 Demonstrate recognition of the unique implications and developmental context of the anatomical
and physiological differences between neonates, children and young people

10. Non Medical Prescribing
Assessment and feedback
There are two summative (formal) assessment tasks for this course:
Task One
• A 1 ½ hour, two part examination, that focuses upon short and multiple
choice questions designed to assess the students’ knowledge of numeracy
(Part A) and pharmacology, prescription writing and the principles and legal
issues central to prescribing practice(Part B).
• The pass mark for Part A (numeracy) is 100%
The pass mark for Part B (pharmacology) is 80%
If a registrant fails to answer correctly any question that may result in direct
harm to a patient/client they must be referred

11. Non Medical Prescribing
Assessment cont'd
Task Two - Portfolio
• The Portfolio (100% weighting) requires the student to demonstrate achievement of the
module learning outcomes by providing confirmation of:
• satisfactory completion of a period of 90 days practice learning and assessment of
competence by a Designated Medical Practitioner through a completed Practice
Assessment Document (PAD)
• satisfactory completion of an Objective, Structured, Clinical Assessment (contained within
the PAD) which is undertaken in practice and supervised by a Designated Medical
Practitioner
• a 4,500 word reflective commentary supported by evidence to confirm achievement of
practice learning, including a Clinical Management Plan and examples of prescription
writing.

12. Non Medical Prescribing
Update of the single competency framework for all prescribers
 This framework, developed by the National Prescribing Centre (NPC) in May 2012,
was due for review in May 2014.
 The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is managing the updating process working closely
with other professional bodies and organisations. The update will reflect the current
evidence base, health and social care organisational structures, professional
requirements and user needs.
Key dates are:
 June-July 2015: project board and steering group set up
 July-September 2015: reference network established
 December 2015: first draft
 January-February 2016: validation and user testing with prescribers and patients
 March 2016: consultation draft
 May 2016: update published
 http://www.nice.org.uk


13. Non Medical Prescribing
Radiography
• The public consultation on proposals to introduce independent prescribing
by radiographers across the UK has been published.
• The consultation closes on 22 May 2015.
• The campaign to gain independent prescribing rights for radiographers is
part of The Allied Health Professions (AHP) Medicines project, a joint
initiative by NHS England and the Department of Health to extend
prescribing, supply and administration of medicines to Allied Health
Professions: independent prescribing by therapeutic and diagnostic
radiographers and paramedics; supplementary prescribing by dieticians;
and use of exemptions from Medicines Act Regulations by orthoptists.
(Society of Radiographers)

14. Non Medical Prescribing
Paramedics
The NHS is now consulting on proposals to enable paramedics, working at an advanced level
and who have undergone the appropriate training, to be able to become independent
prescribers of medicines across the United Kingdom.
The proposed changes will enable the development of new roles and new ways of working
which will better utilise the skills of paramedics and therefore support the delivery of safe,
effective services that are focused on the patient experience whilst also being cost effective.
NHS England is currently consulting on proposals to allow four allied health professions to be
able to prescribe or supply and administer medicines, as appropriate for their patients. These
are:
Independent prescribing by radiographers
Independent prescribing by paramedics;
Supplementary prescribing by dietitians; and
The use of exemptions within the Human Medicines Regulations (2012) by orthoptists.
The proposals for radiographers, paramedics, dietitians and orthoptists would require changes
to be made to medicines legislation.