Developing a competency framework for designated prescribing practitioners

For those preparing to become prescribers, a period of practice-based learning is a key part of training. This time spent in practice allows trainees to consolidate and contextualise the academic component of the prescribing course, put theory into practice, and develop and demonstrate competence as a prescriber. This practice-based learning is undertaken under the supervision of an experienced prescribing practitioner. Traditionally, this experienced prescribing practitioner has been a medically qualified doctor in the role known as the designated medical practitioner (DMP). This role has been described as critical and highly responsible for educating and assessing the trainee prescriber (Department of Health (DH), 2006). In 2019 professional regulatory changes expanded the number of professions able to take on this role. New standards from the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) now allow this role to be carried out by an experienced prescriber from any prescribing profession (NMC, 2018; GPhC, 2019; HCPC, 2019). These professional regulatory changes will impact on a range of groups involved in the training of non-medical prescribers (NMPs).