513 – Paramedics (and others) to prescribe and supply controlled drugs

2023-12-11 11:39:40

After lobbying and a recent question in Parliament, paramedics (and certain other healthcare professionals) will finally be able to prescribe controlled drugs. The Misuse of Drugs (England and Wales and Scotland) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 will come into force on 31 December 2023, amending the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Amongst other things, the amendments provide:

• the definition of persons able to issue an NHS prescription for controlled drugs is extended to includea podiatrist independent prescriber, a physiotherapist independent prescriber, a paramedic independent prescriber, a therapeutic radiographer independent prescriber;
• the definition of a prescription is extended to refer to a prescription issued by a podiatrist independent prescriber for the medical treatment of a single individual, a physiotherapist independent prescriber for the medical treatment of a single individual, a paramedic independent prescriber for the medical treatment of a single individual, a therapeutic radiographer independent prescriber for the medical treatment of a single individual;
• a new regulation 6D is inserted into the Misuse of Drugs Regulations, providing that –
  • A therapeutic radiographer independent prescriber may prescribe any of the following controlled drugs for the treatment of organic disease or injury—
    • Tramadol by oral administration;
    • Lorazepam by oral administration;
    • Diazepam by oral administration;
    • Morphine by oral administration or by injection;
    • Oxycodone by oral administration;
    • Codeine by oral administration.
  • A paramedic independent prescriber may prescribe any of the following controlled drugs for the treatment of organic disease or—
    • Morphine sulphate by oral administration or by injection;
    • Diazepam by oral administration or by injection;
    • Midazolam by oromucosal administration or by injection;
    • Lorazepam by injection;
    • Codeine phosphate by oral administration.
• paramedic independent prescribers and therapeutic radiographer independent prescribers will be able to administer any controlled drug that they are entitled to prescribe and any person may administer a controlled drug at the specific instructions of paramedic independent prescribers and therapeutic radiographer independent prescribers (if it is a controlled drug that they are entitled to prescribe).
• registered chiropodists or registered podiatrists may, if they are qualified to do so, supply or offer to supply the following controlled drugs—
  • co-codamol 8/500, 15/500 and 30/500,
  • co-dydramol 10/500, and
  • codeine phosphate.
• paramedic independent prescribers, therapeutic radiographer independent prescribers, registered chiropodists and podiatrists are exempt from the requirement to mark containers or packages with the contents.