Community Pharmacy Wales
FAQs
Nurse Prescribing in Wales
The following statement from WAG clarifies the position in Wales:
"First Phase Nurse Prescribers (district nurses & health visitors) can only prescribe drugs listed in the Nurse Prescribers' Formulary at the back of the BNF and also in the DT Part XVllB(i).
We have neither approved the introduction of, nor provided training for Extended Formulary Nurse Prescribing. The Extended Nurse Prescribers' Formulary at the back of the BNF and also in the DT Part XVllB(ii) cannot be used in Wales.
We have provided training for, and introduced supplementary prescribing by nurses and pharmacists, but these can only prescribe in accordance with the clinical management plan (CMP) that has been produced by the independent prescriber; and agreed with the supplementary prescriber and patient. With the exception of CDs, a supplementary prescriber may prescribe any medicine in accordance with the CMP i.e. there is no formulary.
As the Minister has recently agreed to the development of independent prescribing by nurses and pharmacists, it is unlikely that the extended formulary will ever be used in Wales.
In conclusion, no nurse in Wales may use the extended formulary.
The Minister has accepted the principle of independent prescribing for Wales. How it will be implemented is being considered by a project board and the DT references are therefore specific to England only at this time."
