Current topic: Implications of the Crown Report and nurse prescribing

Abstract

The Government established a review of prescribing, supply, and administration of medicines in 1997 chaired by Dr June Crown. The review grew out of a desire to make greater use of the skills and experience of the various professions working in primary and secondary care and to determine in what circumstances non-medical health professionals could undertake new roles with regard to the prescribing, supply, and administration of medicines. There already exist situations where a doctor signs a prescription even though the assessment has been undertaken by a non-medical colleague, for example, gaiters recommended by a paediatric physiotherapist to aid walking. This is unsatisfactory in clarity of responsibility and accountability.