Radiographer non-medical prescribing: independence and implications for practice

Since 2005, radiographers have had the authority to act as non-medical supplementary prescribers Department of Health (DoH, 2005a). It is only in recent years, however, that the introduction of radiographer independent prescribing has been passed.

Although the primary role of the therapeutic radiographer is treatment planning and delivery, it has been recognised that the role extends far beyond this. NHS England acknowledge that ‘therapeutic radiographers play a vital role in the delivery of radiotherapy services and are extensively involved at all stages of patients' cancer treatment’ (NHS England, 2016a).

Non-medical prescribing (NMP) is becoming invaluable to evolving radiotherapy roles and practices, enabling radiographers to provide the best possible care to patients.

NMP is important to both the radiography profession and to the modernisation of the NHS by improving services, patient pathways and patient's access to medicines (DoH 2005b, DOH, 2006). The NHS Cancer Plan, supported by the College of Radiographers (CoR), encouraged radiographers and other allied health professions (AHPs) to extend their roles and develop new skills, knowledge and competencies, which crossed traditional boundaries (DoH, 2000; CoR, 2000; CoR, 2002). The National Radiotherapy Advisory group (NRAG) report acknowledged that a significant proportion of a doctor's routine work (20%) could be delivered by appropriately trained non-medical health care professionals in specialist roles (NRAG, 2007).