Good Medicines for Children

1
Good Medicines for Children

• London, 18th May 2004
• Maureen Morgan
• Professional Officer, Policy Practice
• Department of Health

2
Who Can Prescribe?

• district nurses health visitors from Nurse
  Prescribers Formulary
• 25,000 nurses - 13 POMs, some Ps some GSLs
• nurses registered with the NMC with annotation as
  extended or supplementary prescribers
• need at least three years experience
• and - clinical need in position to prescribe
• 2000 extended formulary, 180 POMs, all P
  GSLs, for 80 conditions
• 1300 supplementary
• pharmacists as supplementary prescribers

3
Training to Prescribe

• Regulated by NMC
• for DNs HVs part of training
• extended/supplementary course
• 26 days over 6months, 12 days in practice
• supervision by doctor
• written clinical assessment
• degree level, attracts 20 credits
• distance open learning

4
Competency Framework

• competencies - knowledge, skills, motives, traits
  
• framework - collection of competencies central to
  performance
• used to
• develop training programmes
• inform commissioning of programmes
• help recruitment selection
• aid to training development
• aid to CDP self-assessment

5
Competencies for NP

• 9 grouped into 3 categories
• the consultation
• clinical pharmaceutical knowledge
• establishing options
• communicating with patients
• prescribing effectively
• prescribing safely
• prescribing professionally
• improving prescribing practice

6
Competencies

• prescribing in context
• information in context
• the NHS in context
• the team individual
• competency framework adopted for other
  prescribing professionals
• must be underpinned by good clinical governance
  arrangements

7
Progress so Far

• important part of nursing practice
• realising expectations
• better use of nursing skills
• supports holistic care
• improves patient experience
• helps meet rising demand
• appears not to carry additional risks
• research and evaluation

8
Next Steps

• Medicines for emergency care, first contact,
  OOHs, out for consultation
• May be available early 2005
• Some CDs may be available under supplementary
  prescribing
• Other professions to be included
• Review of current models in certain acute
  situations

9
Pace of Change

• too fast for some
• too slow for others
• formulary too limited / too extensive
• training too long / not specific/ too short
• patient need / patient safety