Tuesday 24 April 2012

Nurses now able to provide faster pain relief

Nurses and pharmacists who are qualified as ‘independent prescribers’ will now be able to prescribe controlled drugs like morphine, diamorphine and prescription-strength co-codamol, following changes to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations.
They will also be able to prescribe controlled drugs in community pain clinics for patients with long-term conditions such as arthritis. 
The changes only apply to nurses, pharmacists and midwives who have the right experience and who have successfully completed additional post-registration training. 
Patients will no longer have to wait for a doctor to sign a prescription, which means they will be able to receive urgent pain relief more quickly. 
Chief nursing officer, Professor Dame Chris Beasley, said: “These changes will help deliver faster and more effective care, making it easier for patients to get the medicines they need, without compromising safety.”

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