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Opinion & Debate

Non-medical prescribing: the story so far

Mona-Lisa Kwentoh, Specialty Registrar (ST4)

Teesside and Easington Early Intervention Service, Stockton on Tees

Joe Reilly, Director

*Mental Health Research Centre, Durham University, Wolfson Research Institute, Queen’s Campus, University Boulevard, Stockton on Tees TS17 6BH, email: j.g.reilly{at}durham.ac.uk

Declaration of interest

None.

Abstract

Non-medical prescribing is an element of the National Health Service modernisation agenda intended to change traditional professional roles and responsibilities, as part of New Ways of Working. This article describes concepts of non-medical prescribing and its implications for UK psychiatric practice. The perceived benefits of non-medical prescribing cannot be denied but debate continues about competence and clinical governance issues. Psychiatrists have an essential role to play in the success of non-medical prescribing. Further research and evaluation are needed to establish what works best in terms of clinical safety and training.