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Diseased Prescriptions

By Adam Pattison Rathbone
12 Oct 2010

In my latest copy of the journal, someone suggested prescriptions that confirm the diagnosis and then allow the pharmacist to decide what to use to combat the illness.

Forgive me, but the vast majority of pharmacists in this country are not prescribers and they certainly were not educated to be. I'm fresh out of university and currently doing my pre-reg in hospital, this weeks rotation is on the heamotology ward, and i've discovered there is quite a clear reason why only consultants and specialist registrar's are allowed to prescribe chemotherapy in this trust. 

Prescribing is complex and the responsibility is great. If medics diagnose the patient and pharmacists prescribe, who will check the clinical appropriateness of our decision before the patient is supplied?

Traditionally the pharmacist's role was to supply medicines and pharmaceutical care. Prescribing pharmacists are breaking away from that role, and I support the odd individual who can really make a difference to their patients by prescribing, however the profession is running a massive risk to patients if it plans on becoming the prescriber and supplier - isn't this exactly why doctor's don't dispense?

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Wed, 13/10/2010 - 22:24 – Ahmed El-dabbagh

You can't prove your point

You can't prove your point by comparing pharmacist’s prescribing to specialist’s. Most patients who visit their GP for the first time would be prescribed medicines for their illnesses, which most of them are minor illnesses, these prescribed medicines help some patients to get well other times they don’t, in which case the patients need further investigation. Therefore the patient would be referred to a specialist.There are too many cases where pharmacists can prescribe medicines to patients safely and effectively. We already have too many examples where pharmacists show competence and professionalism in prescribing without any dire consequences to the public.EHC, Migran, thrush treatments, eye infections, BPH management, pain relief treatment, medicine for overweight patient, hay fever and allergy treatment, GIT treatment, IBS, cold and flu, dermatitis and skin allergy that to mention just few. These examples help the pharmacists to gain the trust and the confidence of the public and indeed will encourage them to take more responsibility in prescribing medicine for many other illnesses safely. 

 

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