When will the law regarding the non-medical prescribing (NMP) of controlled drugs change?
Following a consultation process conducted in 2007, the Home Office’s Misuse of Drugs regulations relating to non-medical prescribing (NMP) of controlled drugs are set to change. The changes are set to allow pharmacist independent prescribers to prescribe, within competence, an unrestricted range of schedule 2, 3, 4 and 5 controlled drugs and remove the existing limitations on the prescription and administration of controlled drugs by nurse independent prescribers. An amendment to the Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Order 1997 has been made, which came into force on 1 April 2008, and goes part way to achieving these changes. However, a change to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 is necessary and has not yet taken place. We are not in a position to say when these changes will take place, however we will keep our NMP network informed and website updated when they do. Until the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 are amended nurse independent prescribers will continue to be limite
