Is there a future for independent prescribing by advanced paramedics?

The recently published outcomes from the meeting of the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) regarding independent prescribing by radiographers and paramedics was not the news that we as a profession had hoped for, and has caused significant disappointment and frustration among those advanced paramedics anticipating the opportunity to become a prescriber. This editorial is intended to provide clarity in relation to the outcome of the CHM meeting, give some thoughts on what may happen next, and suggest some ways in which we as paramedics can continue to work towards independent prescribing in the future.

While there has been an increased focus on what paramedics have to offer in relation to new ways of working for the NHS, we can never assume that achieving independent prescribing will ever be a formality, or even a reality. It is important to remember that for any healthcare profession to be enabled to independently prescribe medicines, legislative change must occur. This process, led by NHS England, includes making a case for need within NHS England itself and receiving ministerial approval to undertake a 12 week UK-wide public consultation, the findings of which are presented to the CHM for the commission to be able to form recommendations to ministers regarding the proposal. The CHM is an advisory non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department of Health, whose primary function is to advise ministers on the safety, efficacy and quality of medicinal products, as well as advising on other aspects of public safety related to medicines. Ministers responsible for final decisions regarding changes to medicines legislation rely on the expert advice of the CHM, therefore the recommendations from CHM are considered carefully by ministers. As a profession we must look at the comments provided by the CHM as high-quality critique, and act to try and resolve these challenges so that, should we have the opportunity, we can return in the future better prepared.