RCN welcomes greater scope for nurse prescribers

Published: 03 April 2012

 
For immediate release:  02 April 2012
RCN welcomes greater scope for nurse prescribers

Following Home Office legislation which means that nurse prescribers are able to prescribe a greater variety of controlled drugs, Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, said:

“This is an important piece of legislation which will improve patient care. Until now, the formal process of supplementary prescribing of controlled drugs has in some instances led to delays in patients receiving medicines which could have led to extended periods of pain. The RCN has worked hard for many years to ensure that specially qualified nurses should, as independent practitioners, be able to prescribe from the same list of medicines as doctors and our members have lobbied hard in favour of this change. We are pleased that these practitioners are going to receive the recognition they have long deserved.”
Ends

Notes for Editors

1. The Home Office have now laid the relevant legislation to allow a greater variety of controlled drugs, with the changes coming into effect on  April 23rd. This will mean that in excess of 20,000 Nurse Independent prescribers in the UK, who have undertaken a specialist degree level course and after rigorous assessment hold a separate registered qualification will be able to prescribe from the same list of medicines as doctors  within their specialty and competence.

2. The statutory instrument is here - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/973/contents/made

3. For further information, please contact the RCN Media Office on 020 7647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit  http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

4. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.