References
Non-medical prescribing in primary care in the United Kingdom: an overview of the current literature
Abstract
Background:
Non-medical prescribers (NMPs) are perceived as a complement to busy general practice in primary care.
Aim:
To conduct an overview of the literature available on the role and impact of non-medical prescribing (NMP) on primary care patients.
Method:
The search was conducted using multiple databases to find articles published between January 2015-January 2021. Inclusion criteria: NMPs in primary care in the United Kingdom, written in English language. Exclusion criteria: research conducted in secondary care or outside the UK.
Findings:
285 studies were identified; 15 were eligible for critical appraisal. Key themes were: NMP's positive perceptions were autonomy, job satisfaction and colleague support; negative perceptions included risk, lack of continuous professional development (CPD), organisational support.
Conclusion:
By reviewing the perceptions of NMPs in primary care, organisations can ensure when employing new NMPs that the adequate CPD and support is in place. Thereby reducing NMPs concerns about the ligation risk of prescribing.
After nurses had lobbied parliament for years to be legally allowed to prescribe, which eventually happened in 1992 (Department of Health [DH], 1989; 1998; 1999) slowly with the change in legislation and policies, nurses earned more and more prescribing rights until April 2006, when they were given the same prescribing rights as doctors (Pearce, 2016). This exceeds any other NMP rights anywhere in the world and has caused great concern in the medical profession initially (Avery and Pringle, 2005; British Medical Association [BMA], 2005; Day, 2006). However, now NMP is seen to complement busy general practitioners in primary care (Courtaney et al, 2017). NMPs are registered prescribers who are not doctors (physicians) such as nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, radiographers, podiatrists, and recently, paramedics (Table 1).
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Journal of Prescribing Practice and reading some of our peer-reviewed resources for prescribing professionals. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Limited access to our clinical or professional articles
-
New content and clinical newsletter updates each month