Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government why there is disparity in the legal prescribing rights of various professions when nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, therapeutic and diagnostic radiographers, dietitians and paramedics all undertake prescribing training together, and are assessed in the same way.

Non-medical prescribers must work within their own level of expertise. This, together with the requirements of the roles in which different professions are employed, is reflected in the differences between the legal prescribing responsibilities of these professions. Regulators keep records of which healthcare professionals can prescribe, and employers have a responsibility to ensure that non-medical prescribers undertake the relevant training and development, so that their knowledge and skills remain up to date. This is to ensure clinicians work within their sphere of competence.