Changes to working practices such as evening clinics or outreach work in community settings in any of the above scenarios, can add further weight to the benefits that radiographer independent prescribing could bring because of the lack of availability of medical practitioners during these situations. The evidence base of practical examples of radiographer prescribing is tiny, but with an eye on the experiences of the almost 40,000 non-medical prescribers (eg nurses, pharmacists and physiotherapists) already practising in the UK, the potential of prescribing for future radiographer practice becomes obvious. At the time of writing, the case of need has recently been made for radiographers to become independent prescribers; it has progressed through the review process of the NHS in the UK and has recently become available for public consultation. Timescales are unknown; agreement for radiographer independent prescribing will facilitate realisation, in time, of these benefits and more.
Conclusion The current situation for prescribing and administration of medicines for radiographer-led therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, under the umbrella of supplementary prescribing, has been in place for 10 years and has worked reasonably well. However, its inflexibility and limited scope, means that the patient's journey through radiology and radiotherapy departments may often be delayed or involve additional visits. While independent prescribing won’t replace supplementary prescribing, it will certainly add to the flexibility of practice and, in many circumstances, improve the patient's experience. It is also important to note that certain treatment types are best undertaken using a team approach, ie as part of a good working relationship with the clinical team caring for the patient. Non-medical prescribing is not about working alone; it is about widening the impact of the clinical team by allowing team members to work to their scope of competence with patients as their focus. That feels a lot like that place at which we would all like to work – Anywhere NHS Foundation Trust.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS Dianne Hogg is Queen's Nurse and non-medical prescribing lead at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and Chair of Cumbria and Lancashire NMP Leads Network, hosted by Health Education North West.
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Professor Nigel Thomas is a retired Consultant Radiologist, Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester.
Professor Peter Hogg is Professor of Radiography and Director of the Health Science Research Centre at the University of Salford. He is a visiting researcher at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
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Vincent Goodey is Assistant Director of Pharmacy for Clinical Services and Medicines Safety Officer at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.
Dr Duncan Gavan is a Consultant Radiologist and Division Medical Director for Clinical Support services at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust. Gavan is also Chair of the East Lancashire Medicine Management Board.
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