Medicines Management Policy - Dudley Primary Care Trust

2. Prescribing of medicines
2.1 Introduction
There are increasing numbers of types of prescribers and methods by which
medicines can be authorised for administration to a patient/client. Medicines,
which have not been authorised by a registered prescriber, must not be
administered to patients/clients. This authorisation must be in writing, in the
form of a prescription or Patient Group Direction (PGD), in advance of the
administration of the medicine.
2.2 Independent Prescribing
All prescribers are expected to adhere to the Dudley Joint Formulary, wound
care formulary and local prescribing guidelines.
Definition of Independent Prescribing
The Department of Health’s working definition of independent prescribing is
prescribing by a practitioner (e.g. doctor, dentist, nurse, and pharmacist)
responsible and accountable for the assessment of patients with undiagnosed
or diagnosed conditions and for decisions about the clinical management
required, including prescribing
2.3 Non Dudley employed clinicians prescribing for inpatients on PCT sites.
Where medical staff from Dudley Group of Hospitals, have been asked to
assess a patient and wish to make a recommendation concerning medication,
they should not write on the prescription sheet. Recommendations should be
written in the patient records for addition to the prescription sheet by the
patient’s own clinical team.
2.4 Non-Medical Prescribers
The introduction of prescribing by healthcare professionals other than doctors
and dentists involves them working outside traditional boundaries. This policy
aims to set out the administrative and procedural steps required by each
healthcare profession now eligible to prescribe. It contains advice on good
practice to ensure non-medical prescribers are practicing legally and safely
within a supportive environment.
It is necessary to develop non-medical prescribing guidelines within a Clinical
Governance Framework to encompass quality, education and training, records,
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