Published: 16/05/19

This Circular advises community pharmacy contractors that as of 1 April 2018 paramedics can become an independent prescriber within NHS Scotland; and from May 2019, community pharmacies may receive GP10 prescription forms signed by paramedic independent prescribers for dispensing.

Background

Prescribing rights have been extended to paramedic independent prescribers. As of 1 April 2018 they were included in the definition of ‘prescriber’ within the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2018 and will be able to prescribe within their own competency.

The new paramedic prescribers are persons who are registered in the parts of the register maintained under article 5 of the Health Professions Order 2001 for paramedics and against whose name in the register is recorded an annotation signifying that they are qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as an independent prescriber.

Detail

From May 2019, community pharmacies may be presented with prescription forms that have been signed by paramedic independent prescribers. The initial cohort will be based within GP practices and will use the standard GP10 form.

A further cohort of paramedic independent prescribers will be ready later in the year to start writing prescriptions and further clarification will be issued at that point about the type of prescription stationery they will use.