BMA calls for urgent meeting with Patricia Hewitt on plans to extend prescribing powers

Mr James Johnson, Chairman of the British Medical Association, has called for an urgent meeting with Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health, to discuss the government's proposals to extend prescribing powers to nurses and pharmacists.

Mr Johnson said:

“We need to meet urgently with the Secretary of State to clarify the conditions under which other professions can prescribe. It is difficult to see how healthcare professionals who are not trained to diagnose disease can safely prescribe appropriate treatment. The BMA will be seeking assurances from the government that patient safety will not be compromised by these changes.”

Dr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman of the BMA's GPs Committee said:

"While we support the ability of suitably trained nurses and pharmacists to prescribe from a limited range of medicines for specific conditions, we believe only doctors have the necessary diagnostic and prescribing training that justifies access to the full range of medicines for all conditions. This announcement raises patient safety issues and we are extremely concerned that the training provided is not remotely equivalent to the five or six years training every doctor has undertaken."

Dr Paul Miller, Chairman of the BMA Consultants' Committee said:

"This is an irresponsible and dangerous move. Patients will suffer. I would not have me or my family subject to anything other than the highest level of care and prescribing, which is that provided by a fully trained doctor."

http://www.bma.org.uk