As of 31 December 2023, paramedics and other stipulated healthcare practitioners (see below) will be able to prescribe specified controlled drugs. The new Misuse of Drugs (England and Wales and Scotland) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2023 will amend the former Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 permitting:
- Podiatrist independent prescribers, physiotherapist independent prescribers, paramedic independent prescribers and therapeutic radiographer independent prescribers to issue an NHS prescription for specified controlled drugs. In turn, the definition of a prescription will now be extended to refer to a podiatrist/ physiotherapist /paramedic/ therapeutic radiographer independent prescriber for the medical treatment of a single individual.
- A paramedic independent prescriber will now be able to prescribe the following controlled drugs for treatment of organic disease or injury: Morphine Sulphate (by oral administration or injection), Diazepam (by oral administration or injection, Midazolam (by oromucosal administration or by injection), Lorazepam (by injection) and Codeine phosphate (by oral administration).
- A therapeutic radiographer independent prescriber will now be able to prescribe the following controlled drugs for treatment of organic disease or injury: Tramadol, Lorazepam, Diazepam, Morphine, Oxycodone and Codeine (all by oral administration except for Morphine which may also be by injection).
- A podiatrist or chiropodist with the relevant qualification will also be able to supply or offer to supply Co-codamol 8/500, 15/500 and 30/500, Co-dydramol 10/500 and Codeine phosphate.
- Paramedic independent prescribers and therapeutic radiographer independent prescribers will also be able to specifically instruct any person to administer the stipulated controlled drugs to a patient providing ‘it is administered for a purpose for which it may be prescribed under that regulation and by the method by which it was prescribed to be administered’.
Tracy Nicholls, Chief Executive of the College of Paramedics has confirmed that this new legislation will “enable our profession to operate safely, within a well-governed system to support optimal patient care for those who require our services, all without placing additional burden on colleagues within the systems which we work.” This new legislation reflects the Government’s commitment to the Long-Term Workforce Plan and will “enable quicker access to medicines for patients, relieve pressure in accident and emergency departments and will allow [those] working at an advanced level of practice to be able to assess, diagnose and treat patients independently rather than refer them on to another healthcare professional”.
