What can an independent prescriber prescribe?
Nurse independent prescribers can prescribe any licensed medicine for any condition within their clinical competence, including some controlled drugs (see controlled drugs section below). Pharmacist independent prescribers can prescribe any licensed medicine for any condition within their clinical competence, excluding controlled drugs (see controlled drugs section below). Optometrist independent prescribers are able to prescribe any licensed medicine for ocular conditions affecting the eye, and the tissue surrounding the eye, within their recognised area of expertise and competence, except for controlled drugs or medicines for parenteral administration. Guidance on independent prescribing can be found in the Department of Health document ‘Improving patients’ access to medicines: A guide to implementing nurse and pharmacist independent prescribing within the NHS in England’. A community practitioner nurse prescriber can prescribe from the Nurse Prescribers’ Formulary for Community Prac
