Ministerial approval for commencement of work on paramedic prescribing

Ministerial approval has been received for the commencement of preparatory work to take paramedic independent prescribing proposals forward to public consultation.

The College of Paramedics have been campaigning for a number of years to review the current legislation around non-medical independent prescribing and the case for paramedic independent prescribers.

The Allied Health Professions (AHP) Medicines Project was set up as a joint initiative by NHS England and the Department of Health to extend prescribing, supply and administration of medicines to allied health professions.

The aim of the initiative is to facilitate service redesign; increase patient choice; improve access to medicines; and make best use of allied health professionals’ skills, while maintaining patient safety.

Independent prescribing for paramedics is among the key proposals that the NHS England AHP Medicines team are focusing on.

A case of need has been developed for this proposal based on improving quality of care for patients in relation to safety, clinical outcomes and experience, while also improving efficiency of service delivery and value for money.

The consultations and supporting documents will be developed over summer, with the aim of seeking ministerial approval to publish the consultations later in the year.

Following public consultation, there will be significant further work to be undertaken, including submission of consultation findings for consideration by the Commission on Human Medicines, who will make recommendations to ministers regarding any potential changes to medicines legislation.

Taken from Journal of Paramedic Practice, published 10 September 2014.