RPS publishes new guidance for prescribing practice

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has published a new professional guidance for prescribing practice on Monday (June 6) which it says will be "for the benefit of all independent prescribers across the UK".

Based on collaboration with multi-professional stakeholders, the document is a guidance tool for prescribers wanting to expand their prescribing scope of practice.

Commissioned by the Welsh government, the document was developed through an expert group with representatives from many healthcare professions, including from Higher Education institutions, professional bodies, regulatory bodies, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, NHS Education for Scotland, Health Education and Improvement Wales, and representatives from hospital, community and GP practice.

RPS president Claire Anderson said: “It’s fantastic to see the growth in prescribing, both across the profession and more widely, to improve patient care.

“The guidance provides a structured approach for those wanting to change or expand their scope of prescribing practice.  This recognises that whilst many pharmacist prescribers will be working as generalists, their prescribing training generally has a narrow speciality focus.”

Andrew Evans OBE, chief pharmaceutical officer for Wales, said: “The expanding scope of practice guidance for non-medical prescribers is a very welcome development that Welsh Government has been delighted to support.

“We recognise the need for a structured and supportive approach for prescribers wishing to develop their practice, the guidance also contributes to added assurance in the employment of suitably qualified and competent prescribers. This is vitally important at a time when service developments are demanding more from the non-medical prescriber workforce.

“In Wales, the guidance will support the delivery of the new community pharmacy contractual framework, which includes a community pharmacy national independent prescribing service and I am equally keen to see it supporting service developments right across the UK.”

RPS already hosts and maintains the Competency Framework for all prescribers on behalf of all professional leadership bodies whose members can prescribe. The new guidance, Expanding scope of prescribing practice, is another important document to provide support for professionals who prescribe.