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New powers allowing pharmacists and nurses to prescribe drugs from early next year, were unveiled today by Health Minister, Lord Philip Hunt.

Patients with asthma, diabetes, coronary heart disease and high blood pressure are likely to be among the first to benefit with quicker access to medicines.

The move follows widespread consultation carried out earlier this year on supplementary prescribing. Training for pharmacists will begin in the spring, and new courses for nurse prescribing will be available from early in the new year.

During a visit to the anticoagulation clinic at Guys and St Thomas' Hospital, Lord Hunt said:

This move has real potential to provide better and quicker patient care, and to make much better use of highly skilled pharmacists and nurses, by giving them delegated powers to prescribe drugs to patients in partnership with GPs or hospital doctors.

"Staff will undergo comprehensive training before becoming 'supplementary' prescribers, and we aim to have up to 1,000 pharmacists and up to 10,000 nurses trained by the end of 2004."

Professor David Haslam, Chairman of the Royal College of General Practioners, said"I am enthusiastically in favour of this development. The current antiquated arrangements are insulting to the many highly trained nurses who already effectively make prescribing decisions, particularly in areas like diabetes or asthma management, but who then have to find a doctor to sign the prescription. With the right safeguards in place, this will be of benefit to nurses, doctors, and particularly patients - saving everyone time, and increasing teamwork, skillmix, and efficiency."

Chief Pharmacist at Guys and St Thomas' Hospital, Tony West said:

"This will help improve patient access to medicines, and increase the opportunity for patients to get advice about their medicines. Additionally, this extended role ensures the NHS makes the best use of key professional staff by forging stronger partnerships between doctors and pharmacists in full collaboration with the patient."

Sarah Mullally, Chief Nursing Officer for England added:

"This type of prescribing will be a very useful addition to the practice of nurses, many of whom already manage a variety of long term conditions and health needs for their patients. Nurses often advise doctors on prescribing decisions in their specialist area, and the introduction of supplementary prescribing will allow nurses to write many of those prescriptions themselves. I believe that nurses will welcome the opportunity to develop these skills for the benefit of their patients."

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