2 - Non-Medical Prescribing in a Multidisciplinary Team Context

Summary

The prescribing of medicines by a range of health professions is pivotal to the success of the future NHS. Prescribing is a key enabler of specialist and advanced practice, and health professionals that can prescribe medicines are crucial members of healthcare delivery teams. Widening the prescribing of medicines to some professions in addition to the medical profession has changed the role boundaries of those prescribing professions, necessitating changes to relationships between those involved in the patient’s care. The teams in which prescribers work are across the full range of professions, extending beyond traditional boundaries, and include consideration of housing, education, employment as well as physical, mental and social health. This diversity has introduced a need for further integrated working and collaboration across the system. Excellent teamwork, clinical governance, communication and information sharing are crucial, as is the need for team members to have a clear understanding of one another’s roles and the ability to communicate with one another.