FAO of Squad

[Eastender]

Are they allowed to write prescriptions for antibiotics? On the odd occasion that I have been, there has never been any actual Doctors only Health Assistants. Thanks

[Eastender]

Walk in Centres that is squad lol

[Sqad]

Eastender...Walk in Centres are completely alien to me and other ABers will have to "fill you in"

I would not have thought in the UK that non medically qualified personnel would be able to distribute antibiotics, but I stand to be corrected.

I must confess that I am not a fan of "walk in centres" or NHS direct.......just a personal opinion, you understand.

[lorri24601]

The walk in centre at our station is run by local GP`s on a rota basis, so i can`t see why they would not write prescriptions if needed :-)

[bednobs]

nurses and doctors and dentists can write prescriptions. sometimes pharmacists can too

[sherrardk]

Hi Sqad - the receptionist in our doctors now makes up and dispenses antibiotics.

[Sqad]

<<<<<<nurses and doctors and dentists can write prescriptions. sometimes pharmacists can too<<<<

They may be able to write the prescriptions, but don´t they have to be countersigned by a doctor? If not ANYBODY can write prescriptions under the guise of nurses, pharmacists etc and who is held responsible if there is improper prescribing either in dosage or choice of drug?

Seems a bit odd.

[boxtops]

Healthcare Assistants can't write prescriptions and sign them - they may be able to write up repeats and give them to a prescriber to sign.
Nurses can only prescribe AND sign if they have undertaken a particular training programme at one of the local universities, to become a non-medical prescriber - you can tell by the prescription, in England, GP prescription pads are green and non-medical prescriber pads are purple. Pharmacists - and soon, certain allied health professionals - can write limited scrips - as can dentists - but they all have to have been throught this prescribing course (and passed it, some don't), and even then, they can only prescribe from those parts of the formulary which are in their scope of practice. Dispensaries reject prescriptions which don't meet all the criteria.
Receptionists can set up repeats but they can't sign the script.

[Sqad]

boxtops...thank you......that makes more sense, but what about malpractice insurance for non medically qualified personnel?

[bednobs]

it is covered under the employers vicarious responsibilities.
Non-medical people have been able to prescribve for a long while now (at least 6/7 yeaRS and probably a lot longer)
In theory the whole of the BNF is available for them to prescribe but in practice they prescribe froma limited scope that's in their normal sphere of work (ie district nurses probably prescribe enemas and dressings mostly; macmillan nurses probably prescribe pain killers and and laxatives, practice nurses mainly prescribe antibiotics etc)
the non medical prescribing course is extremely hard, and often done in conjunction with a diagnostic skills course (university level). A couple of the doctors i worked with (who also taught on the course) used to say we got more training than they did in prescribing, which for doctors, is i believe often "on the go" and then experience isn't it?
some areaS also use PGD's to allow other staff to administer drugs without and individual prescription

[Sqad]

bednobs......thanks.....much clearer now.

[boxtops]

cheers bednobs, sqad - these days health care assistants can also provide a large range of services (subject to proper training) - ours are now delivering seasonal flu vacs under PSDs.