BNF for Children 2011-2012

BNFC 2011–2012 799Non-medical prescribingA range of non-medical healthcare professionals canprescribe medicines for patients as either Independentor Supplementary Prescribers.Independent prescribers are practitioners responsibleand accountable for the assessment of patients withpreviously undiagnosed or diagnosed conditions andfor decisions about the clinical management required,including prescribing. They are recommended to prescribegenerically, except where this would not beclinically appropriate or where there is no approvednon-proprietary name.Supplementary prescribing is a partnership betweenan independent prescriber (a doctor or a dentist) and asupplementary prescriber to implement an agreedClinical Management Plan for an individual patientwith that patient’s agreement.Independent and Supplementary Prescribers are identifiedby an annotation next to their name in therelevant professional register.Up-to-date information and guidance on non-medicalprescribing is available on the Department of Healthwebsite at www.dh.gov.uk/nonmedicalprescribing.For information on the mixing of medicines byIndependent and Supplementary Prescribers, seeMixing of medicines prior to administration in clinicalpractice—responding to legislative changes,National Prescribing Centre, May 2010 (available atwww.npc.co.uk/policy/mixing/mixing_medicines.htm).For information on the supply and administration ofmedicines to groups of patients using Patient GroupDirections, see p. 3.NursesFor further information on Nurse Independent Prescribing,see Nurse Prescribers’ Formulary, p. 797.OptometristsOptometrist Independent Prescribers can prescribe anylicensed medicine for ocular conditions affecting the eyeand the tissues surrounding the eye, except ControlledDrugs or medicines for parenteral administration. OptometristIndependent Prescribers must work within theirown level of professional competence and expertise.Non-medical prescribingPharmacistsPharmacist Independent Prescribers can prescribe anymedicine, except Controlled Drugs, for any medicalcondition. Pharmacist Independent Prescribers mustwork within their own level of professional competenceand expertise.