The Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR) is throwing its support behind National Health Service (NHS) proposals to introduce independent prescribing by diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers across the U.K.
Independent prescribing is the prescribing of medicines by an appropriately trained practitioner responsible for the assessment of patients and for decisions about their clinical management, including any prescribing of medicines.
The NHS proposal would allow radiographers to undertake independent prescribing as part of the Allied Health Professions (AHP) Medicines Project under the Chief AHP Officer within NHS England.
SCoR said that radiographers already have extensive experience in the safe and effective use of medicines, including contrast agents, as part of their practice. Supplementary prescribing has been an option for radiographers since 2005.
SCoR Professional Officer Christina Freeman said that by becoming independent prescribers, radiographers will make a "significant difference to some key areas of practice, including emergency, unscheduled care, and cancer care. It will change the way radiographers work and, more importantly, it will greatly enhance the service that they can give to their patients."
NHS is now taking comments on its proposal.
