**************SPOTLIGHT NEWS************** APA welcomes UK independent prescribing rights 20 August 2013 The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) has applauded today’s changes to medicines legislation in the UK that allow physiotherapists independent prescribing rights. The APA has called on Australian governments to consider this prescribing model. The change allows physiotherapists to prescribe any licensed medicine and to also mix medicines prior to administration. This means physiotherapists in the UK will have similar prescribing responsibilities to those of other non-medical prescribing professionals in Britain, such as nurses and pharmacists. In Australia, the APA has worked with Health Workforce Australia (HWA) to develop a model prescribing pathway for non-medical health professions under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme. The project aims to enable non-medical health professionals, such as physiotherapists, the ability to prescribe medicines consistent with their scope of practice. It will examine suitable models for education, training, accreditation, credentialing, and monitoring of quality and safety associated with pharmaceutical prescription. HWA states on its website that a final report will be presented to the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council before the end of 2013. ‘The APA welcomes the introduction of independent prescribing rights for physiotherapists in the UK,’ APA CEO Cris Massis said. ‘Physiotherapists are highly skilled healthcare providers. We support similar prescribing rights in Australia as this will allow physiotherapists to improve care for their patients, reduce the burden on doctors, and decrease inefficiencies in the public health system.’ ‘The APA firmly believes that proper education and training, credentialing, and strict adherence to parameters and procedures will ensure patient safety and the best quality care,’ he added. For more information, please contact: Erik Froese Australian Physiotherapy Association P: (+61) 3 9092 0829 M (+61) 457 963 675 E [email protected] Courtesy: Australian Physiotherapy Association
Posted on: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 10:18:22 +0000
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