To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow specialist orthoptists independent prescribing responsibilities, thereby obviating glaucoma patients' requirement for a duplicate appointment with an ophthalmologist for eye drop prescriptions, and avoiding unnecessary delay in treatment for these patients and others.
Answered on
13 February 2024
Prescribing is a high-risk activity, and it is widely agreed that it should only be carried out in a regulatory context. There is a process in place for making changes to prescribing responsibilities, to ensure those changes are safe and beneficial for patients. NHS England leads on developing clinical cases for change, in collaboration with the professional bodies, and the Commission on Human Medicines reviews proposals and provides advice. If proposals are progressed, changes must be made to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, using the powers in the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021, and this requires a public consultation and regulations to be laid and debated in both Houses of Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Regulated orthoptists are currently able to supply and administer certain medicines via exemptions or patient group directions. There are no plans to extend this to independent prescribing at this time.