UK non-medical CD prescribing law: permissive or restrictive?

Abstract

Current guidance on non-medical prescribing of controlled drugs (CDs)is a misinterpretation of the law as written. Over four years after obtaining the legal right to prescribe Schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs, therapeutic radiographer and paramedic independent prescribers are still being advised that they cannot do so by their professional regulator. This has arisen from one government department believing this needs to be permitted by legislation originating from another. The latter department is not usually concerned with healthcare provision and has not acted as the former believes is necessary. Independent prescribers, their professional bodies and their regulators should be made aware of this, so they can effectively lobby government to act.