Prescribing in Advanced Practice (AP) Roles
In this section of the toolkit, you will find information and resources to support prescribing in advanced practice roles.
Prescribing
A key element of many, although not all, advanced practice (AP) roles is prescribing. Depending on the nature of the prescribing practice incorporated into a specific role it may be at different levels for example senior/specialist level, or at advanced level. Prescribers may also be supplementary or independent prescribers dependent on their profession.
For advanced nurse practitioner roles prescribing is a requirement as defined in (Scottish Government 2017) Transforming Roles paper 2.
For advanced pharmacists independent prescribing is a requirement prior to starting the advanced practice credential.
Currently four allied health professions (AHPs) have been given prescribing responsibilities:
- Independent and supplementary prescribing – Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Therapeutic Radiographers and Paramedics
- Supplementary prescribing – Dietetics, Diagnostic Radiographers
An overview of prescribing is described in the link below.
Regulatory bodies such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) require strict compliance with a recognised competency framework for prescribers.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Competency Framework for Prescribers is the recognised competency framework for all advanced practitioners.
Watch these videos to find out more about prescribing roles
Ailsa Howie - The Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) Role
A transcript of this video is available here
Prescribing top links
- Prescribing Competency Framework | RPS (rpharms.com)
- Ten principles of good prescribing | British Pharmacological Society (bps.ac.uk)
- Individual professional bodies also have some helpful guidance.
Multi-professional
- Extending prescribing scope of practice
- Independent Prescribing | British Dietetic Association (BDA)
- Prescribing for physiotherapists | The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (csp.org.uk)
- Medicine use in physiotherapy practice | The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (csp.org.uk)
- Section 3 - Prescribing and repeat prescribing | Turas | Learn (nhs.scot)
- Digital Medicines Information Suite | MedicinesComplete
Nurses and Midwives
- Standards for prescribers - The Nursing and Midwifery Council (nmc.org.uk)
- This guidance is currently being reviewed with a view to being updated. Non Medical Prescribing in Scotland: Guidance for Nurse Independent Prescribers and for Community Practitioner Nurse Prescribers in Scotland: A Guide for Implementation (www.gov.scot)
Allied Health Professions
- Health and Care Professions Council statement on prescribing for allied health professions - Prescribing | (hcpc-uk.org)
- College of Podiatry - https://cop.org.uk/
- The British Dietetic Association - www.bda.uk.com/
- Chartered Society of Physiotherapy - www.csp.org.uk/
- Society and College of Radiographers - www.sor.org
- College of Paramedics - www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk/
Radiography
- Society and College of Radiographers - www.sor.org
Paramedics
- College of Paramedics - www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk
Of note – Paramedic independent prescribing legislation is due to change by the end of the year. Please see the statement released by the College of Paramedics 27th Oct 2023.
Pharmacists
The toolkit below was produced by University of Surrey to support decision making as to whether NMP would be valuable to a role: Toolkit Main – Surrey Toolkits
Non-Medical Prescribing qualification
Prescribing qualification
In this section you will find information to support you if you are thinking about undertaking an independent prescribing programme in Scotland.
Funding
NES funding for nurses, AHPs and pharmacists is usually available each year, to access this please contact your health board lead.
The links below will take you to information from higher education institutions providing advanced practice programmes and non-medical prescribing modules in Scotland.
Nursing and AHP
- University of Aberdeen Non-Medical Prescribing (V300) Course - University of Aberdeen | UK (abdn.ac.uk)
- University of Dundee Non Medical Prescribing module (PN50165) | University of Dundee
- Glasgow Caledonian University Prescribing for Healthcare Practitioners Glasgow Caledonian University | Scotland, UK (gcu.ac.uk)
- University of Highlands and Islands CPD Award Non-Medical Prescribing (uhi.ac.uk)
- Edinburgh Napier University Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (napier.ac.uk)
- Open University Postgraduate Certificate in Non-medical Prescribing 60 Credits https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/k33
- Queen Margaret University Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Health Care Professionals (qmu.ac.uk)
- Robert Gordon University Non-Medical Prescribing CPD Course with 30 credits at SCQF level 9 or 30 credits at SCQF level 11 | RGU University – Aberdeen, Scotland, UK | RGU
- University of Stirling Prescribing for Healthcare Professionals (Advancing Practice) | Find a course | University of Stirling
- University of West of Scotland prescribing-v300-information.pdf (uws.ac.uk)
Pharmacy programmes
Generally, four courses run each year between Robert Gordon University and the University of Strathclyde.
More course details and how to apply can be found at Independent Prescribing | Turas | Learn (nhs.scot)