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Press Release: Physiotherapists and podiatrists set to gain prescribing powers
July 24, 2012
Quote:
Patients could benefit from faster access to medicines such as pain relief and anti-inflammatories thanks to proposed new prescribing powers for advanced practitioner physiotherapists and podiatrists, Lord Howe announced today.
Once suitably trained, physiotherapists and podiatrists in the UK would be the first in the world to be able to independently prescribe medicines where clinically appropriate.
Physiotherapists would be able to prescribe medicines for issues such as chronic pain and respiratory diseases like asthma. The opportunity to prescribe pain relief and other medicines would help many patients to respond more quickly to their treatment.
Podiatrists who treat patients with a wide range of conditions including diabetic foot ulcers and arthritic disorders in the foot and ankle would be able to prescribe medication, if required, more promptly.
Health Minister Lord Howe said:
“Physiotherapists and podiatrists are highly trained clinicians who play a vital role in ensuring patients receive integrated care that helps them recover after treatment or manage a long term condition successfully.
“By introducing these changes, we aim to make the best use of their skills and allow patients to benefit from a faster and more effective service, without compromising on safety.”
Dr Helena Johnson, chair of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said:
“Giving physiotherapists the opportunity to prescribe independently will hugely improve the care we can provide in the future.
“Patients will now receive a more streamlined and efficient service, meaning they get the medicines they need more immediately.”
Alison Wishart, Chair of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists said:
“Independent prescribing provides podiatrists with the opportunity to deliver more flexible services for patients – ensuring timely access to medicines, care closer to home and enabling innovation.”
The proposal to extend prescribing responsibilities follows two public consultations last year and subsequent recommendations from the Commission on Human Medicines.
Physiotherapists and podiatrists who have successfully completed Health Professions Council (HPC) approved education programmes and are annotated on theHPCregister could be prescribing independently in 2014.
The Heath Minister has agreed to take forward a change in legislation to allow Podiatrists in the UK access to independent prescribing. Representatives of the Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists have been involved in a four year project, along with members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists and the Department of Health.
This amendment of the Medicines Act will allow suitably trained Podiatrists to independently prescribe medicines to patients in their care and within their specialty. This affirms the autonomy of the profession and is arguably the greatest advance this profession has ever made.
The full media release can be found at http://www.iocp.org.uk/ and https:/www.wp.dh.gov.uk/mediacentre/2012/07/24/physiotherapists- andpodiatrists-set-to-gain-prescribing-powers.
For further information contact secretary@iocp.org.uk and ask for Martin Harvey or Judith Barbaro-Brown
Bill Liggins
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to W J Liggins For This Useful Post:
Independent prescribing for chiropodists/podiatrists and physiotherapists
The Department of Health has announced that medicines legislation will be amended to allow independent prescribing responsibilities to be extended to appropriately trained chiropodists/podiatrists and physiotherapists.
Independent prescribing is prescribing by a practitioner (such as a doctor, dentist, or nurse) who is responsible for the assessment of patients and for decisions about the patient’s clinical management.
Of the professions we regulate, chiropodists/podiatrists, physiotherapists and radiographers can currently complete training to become supplementary prescribers. Supplementary prescribers can only prescribe a medicine where the medicine is listed in an agreed clinical management plan. This plan sets out the care to be provided to a patient and is agreed with the patient. By contrast, independent prescribers have greater autonomy as they can prescribe any medicine within their competence and knowledge, without being limited to the medicines listed in the clinical management plan.
As a regulator, we will play an important role in making sure that chiropodists/podiatrists and physiotherapists are able to act as independent prescribers safely and effectively. We will set standards for independent prescribing, approve education programmes delivering training in independent prescribing and mark on our Register where individuals have completed the appropriate training.
Chiropodists/podiatrists and physiotherapists must complete appropriate training and have their entry on our Register annotated (or marked) before they are able to start prescribing independently. Chiropodists/podiatrists and physiotherapists who are currently practising as supplementary prescribers will need to complete additional training and be annotated on the Register before they can act as independent prescribers.
We will launch a consultation in autumn on new standards for prescribing practice, to take account of these changes. We anticipate that, subject to the change in medicines legislation, education programmes will start to deliver training in independent prescribing in autumn 2013.
Society Press Release: Podiatrists to be granted independent prescribing powers
Quote:
Proposals for changes to legislation, announced by Ministers today, will mean podiatrists could be granted independent prescribing responsibilities for the first time in order to help improve the patient pathway. This will increase access and speed of treatment for patients with conditions which affect the foot, ankle and associated structures.
Amendments to the Medicines Act (1968) are expected to be laid before Parliament in Autumn 2012. If agreed, registered podiatrists will be able to undertake newly developed education programmes. Upon successful completion of the programme podiatrists will have their entry on the HPC register annotated to indicate they are able to independently prescribe. This will mean that rather than having to refer patients to other health care professionals such as GPs for prescriptions, podiatrists will be able to prescribe relevant medicines and help reduce any delays in treatment.
Podiatrists practice both privately and within the NHS, dealing with the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of feet and the lower limb. There are an estimated 11.2 million patient visits to a podiatrist each year, for a range of conditions such as, arthritic disorders in the lower limb, infections of the feet and sports injuries. The new legislation will particularly benefit people with diabetic infections of the feet, acute infections such as wounds and ingrown toe nails, rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis of the foot and ankle, and dermatological conditions of the feet such as fungal infections, who will now be able to receive medicines, if required, more promptly.
There are 2.9 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK and an estimated 850,000 people who have it but don’t know it[1]. Diabetes results in complications such as neuropathy (reduced feeling and numbness) and increased risk of infection in the feet. People with diabetes are recommended to have an annual foot check and the podiatry profession plays a key role in managing and treating diabetes symptoms in the feet. Antibiotics to treat infection are one of the medicines independent prescriber podiatrists will be able to prescribe .
Arthritis is also on the rise, with 60% of cases in the feet [2] , [3] , and medicines will be able to be prescribed by podiatrists to treat it.
Alan Borthwick from The College of Podiatry and Senior Lecturer and Professional Lead (Podiatry) from the University of Southampton said: “These planned changes to legislation will mean that patients will be able to receive more prompt and better access to treatment, helping to reduce the pressure on other health care professionals. It will provide the podiatry profession with greater flexibility to prescribe and supply appropriate treatment to meet individual patient needs.”
Podiatrists have a long history of post-registration education and training in access, supply and administration of prescription only (and pharmacy only) medicines. Approval for use of local anaesthetics agents was provided to the profession in 1980 and since 2005 podiatrists have had supplementary prescribing responsibilities under The Medicines for Human Use (Prescribing) Order 2005 (SI No 765). Pharmacology also forms part of the pre-registration podiatry qualification.
Alongside podiatry, the planned changes would also give physiotherapists independent prescribing responsibilities Health care professions, in addition to medical doctors, that have independent prescribing responsibilities include nurses, pharmacists and optometrists.
I would seriously argue that this is the case. I have been to one or two meetings at the Dept. Health, although gained much more information from Martin Harvey and Judith Barbaro-Brown, the professional representatives who I know well. It is absolutely clear that the Dept. of Health are now aware of the independence and autonomy of the profession - they should have been aware previously but certainly some of their staff were not.
My personal view is that there will be an initial surge in colleagues wishing to prescribe and this will then lessen. However, in time, the necessary elements will inevitably be taught in the schools until, long after our time, all pods will have full prescribing rights. In my view this is a greater step forward than the 1960 Act or the HPC Act. It can be legitimately argued that podiatric surgery was actually the greatest step forward, but this did not involve the whole of the profession.
They're from the same bunch that contribute to TFS
As there is an ex-NHS surgeon amongst them the "denizens" of TFS will be very flattered by the comparison.
But yes, the spelling, grammar and syntax are markedly better
regards
Catfoot
__________________
"Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this."
I would seriously argue that this is the case. I have been to one or two meetings at the Dept. Health, although gained much more information from Martin Harvey and Judith Barbaro-Brown, the professional representatives who I know well. It is absolutely clear that the Dept. of Health are now aware of the independence and autonomy of the profession - they should have been aware previously but certainly some of their staff were not.
My personal view is that there will be an initial surge in colleagues wishing to prescribe and this will then lessen. However, in time, the necessary elements will inevitably be taught in the schools until, long after our time, all pods will have full prescribing rights. In my view this is a greater step forward than the 1960 Act or the HPC Act. It can be legitimately argued that podiatric surgery was actually the greatest step forward, but this did not involve the whole of the profession.
All the best
Bill
I'm sorry Bill - I was rather quick of the mark with the last post. I guess I was considering the other matter of professional progress on the other thread when I answered this. You are of course, correct, I does mark progress and that is to be applauded as well as those who made it happen. And I accept the argument with surgery too. It's just a pity that these are the only indicators of progress in a profession that is crying out for it. But that is another argument altogether!
As there is an ex-NHS surgeon amongst them the "denizens" of TFS will be very flattered by the comparison.
But yes, the spelling, grammar and syntax are markedly better
I'm sorry Bill - I was rather quick of the mark with the last post. I guess I was considering the other matter of professional progress on the other thread when I answered this. You are of course, correct, I does mark progress and that is to be applauded as well as those who made it happen. And I accept the argument with surgery too. It's just a pity that these are the only indicators of progress in a profession that is crying out for it. But that is another argument altogether!
Best wishes
Hi Mark
Thanks for that; as you know I generally share your cynicism!
However, since there does not appear to be the will to create a large push forward, I suppose that we will have to rely on small steps and celebrate those as they occur.
just guessing the course will cost at least 1000 pounds take 6 months 1 day per week at local university. plus about 80 hours of mentoring. great if you work for a trust who will give you a day off free. i spoke to a nurse practitioner yesterday and this is roughly what they had to do, ps they get gps to mentor them however they work for the gps podiatrists generally dont. i dont think many pods will end up prescribing.if i was to do this i could get the mentoring free but the course and day off would cost in the region of 11 grand. plus travel expenses. this is a positive move forwards but will benefit the younger members of the profession particularly when it is part of an undergraduate course. for the over 50s i dont see much reward in this
just guessing the course will cost at least 1000 pounds take 6 months 1 day per week at local university. plus about 80 hours of mentoring. great if you work for a trust who will give you a day off free. i spoke to a nurse practitioner yesterday and this is roughly what they had to do, ps they get gps to mentor them however they work for the gps podiatrists generally dont. i dont think many pods will end up prescribing.if i was to do this i could get the mentoring free but the course and day off would cost in the region of 11 grand. plus travel expenses. this is a positive move forwards but will benefit the younger members of the profession particularly when it is part of an undergraduate course. for the over 50s i dont see much reward in this
As I understand it, the details of the educational side have yet to be finalised; however, I suspect that your analysis will not be completely wide of the mark. As anybody who has gone the surgical route will tell you, you get nothing without hard work. However, the (financial and other) rewards are there to make it worthwhile, even at the advanced age of 50!
I have been quoted elsewhere with the old saw of " The politician thinks of the next election; the statesman thinks of the next generation". I believe this to be true, but you still don't have to let the young plungers catch you!
As I understand it, the details of the educational side have yet to be finalised; however, I suspect that your analysis will not be completely wide of the mark. As anybody who has gone the surgical route will tell you, you get nothing without hard work. However, the (financial and other) rewards are there to make it worthwhile, even at the advanced age of 50!
I have been quoted elsewhere with the old saw of " The politician thinks of the next election; the statesman thinks of the next generation". I believe this to be true, but you still don't have to let the young plungers catch you!
All the best
Bill Liggins
Not sure yet how financially-rewarding having independent prescribing rights will be.
HCPC Press Release: HCPC launches new consultation on standards for prescribing
New consultation launched
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) has launched a consultation today to seek the view of stakeholders on new standards for prescribing.
Quote:
Currently, chiropodists / podiatrists, physiotherapists and radiographers may become supplementary prescribers if they complete the appropriate training and are annotated on the HCPC Register. In July 2012, the Department of Health announced that the medicines legislation will be amended to allow appropriately trained chiropodists / podiatrists and physiotherapists to act as independent prescribers. Chiropodists / podiatrists and physiotherapists will only be able to act as independent prescribers if they are annotated on the HCPC Register as independent prescribers. Radiographers will continue to be eligible for supplementary prescribing only.
The HCPC has developed new standards for prescribing in line with this announcement. These standards, which will apply to both supplementary and independent prescribing, will be published in one document divided into two sections:
The first section contains standards which education programmes delivering training in prescribing will need to meet.
The second section contains standards which individual prescribers will need to meet to demonstrate safe and effective prescribing practice.
Michael Guthrie, Director of Policy and Standards at the HCPC, said:
“Currently, the standard of proficiency related to supplementary prescribing sits within the standards of proficiency for the particular profession. We think that publishing the standards in one document allows us to clearly set out our expectations for prescribing practice and makes it easier for stakeholders to find the standards.
“As with all our standards, the primary purpose of the standards for prescribing is to protect the public. To ensure that the new standards are robust and reflect the latest in safe and effective prescribing practice, we looked at a variety of sources on prescribing during the drafting process, including standards and frameworks set by other regulators.”
The consultation, which will run from Tuesday 2 October 2012 until Friday 4 January 2013, will be of particular interest to education providers delivering training in independent and / or supplementary prescribing, professional bodies, and service users.
Once the consultation closes, the HCPC will analyse the responses and publish a document detailing the comments received and explaining the decisions made as a result. These will be published on the HCPC website. The HCPC then hopes to publish the new standards on April 2013. Subject to the change in legislation, it is expected that training in independent prescribing will start to be available in autumn 2013.
Podiatrists set to gain prescribing powers
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