A survey of english NHS prescribing advisers'roles, and their views on improving prescribing in the new NHS
Authors: Baines, D.L., Rafferty, J.P. and McLeod, H.S.T.
Journal: Pharmaceutical Journal
Volume: 264
Issue: 7091
Pages: 557-559
ISSN: 0031-6873
Abstract:AIM • To ascertain the roles undertaken by NHS prescribing advisers in England, to identify the problems they encountered when attempting to improve local prescribing, to record their relationships with local drug and therapeutics committees and local research ethics committees, to summarise their beliefs on how NHS prescribing could be improved, and to predict how their roles may change in the new NHS. DESIGN • A questionnaire was distributed at the National Prescribing Centre's annual conference in June, 1998, followed by contact with prescribing advisers in non-responding English health authorities. SUBJECTS AND SETTING • Prescribing advisers employed by all health authorities in England. OUTCOME MEASURES • Responses to structured questions RESULTS • Most advisers were performing roles similar to those envisaged by the Conservative government during the early 1990s, with individual visits about specific issues being the most popular strategy for maintaining contact with local practices. The targeting of practices by pharmaceutical companies, the prescribing policies of local hospitals and patient demands were causing significant problems in their attempts to improve local prescribing. Over 80% of respondents were members of at least one local drug and therapeutics committee, while only 9% were members of their local research ethics committee. Approximately one third of respondents wished for more central guidance or greater controls on product licensing. Finally, 40% of respondents believed that the role of prescribing advisers would change significantly in the new NHS. CONCLUSIONS • In the new NHS, health authority prescribing advisers may provide more strategic direction, devise local policies and act as primary care group (PCG) prescribing co-ordinators. PCG advisers may provide practice visits and advice to PCG boards. To accompany these changes, health authority advisers may become involved in medicines management and PCG advisers in prescribing support, rather than individual practice visits.
Source: Scopus