Lim Rosemary Hwee Mei, Courtenay Molly, Fleming Gail
NIHR King's Patient Safety and Service Quality Research Centre, King's College London, London.
Int J Pharm Pract. 2013 Apr;21(2):82-91. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-7174.2012.00224.x. Epub 2012 Jul 11.
Extending the roles of nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals to include prescribing has been identified as one way of improving service provision. In the UK, over 50 000 non-medical healthcare professionals are now qualified to prescribe. Implementation of non-medical prescribing ( NMP) is crucial to realise the potential return on investment. The UK Department of Health recommends a NMP lead to be responsible for the implementation of NMP within organisations. The aim of this study was to explore the role of NMP leads in organisations across one Strategic Health Authority (SHA) and to inform future planning with regards to the criteria for those adopting this role, the scope of the role and factors enabling the successful execution of the role.
Thirty-nine NMP leads across one SHA were approached. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted. Issues explored included the perceived role of the NMP lead, safety and clinical governance procedures and facilitators to the role. Transcribed audiotapes were coded and analysed using thematic analytical techniques.
In total, 27/39 (69.2%) NMP leads were interviewed. The findings highlight the key role that the NMP lead plays with regards to the support and development of NMP within National Health Service trusts. Processes used to appoint NMP leads lacked clarity and varied between trusts. Only two NMP leads had designated or protected time for their role. Strategic influence, operational management and clinical governance were identified as key functions. Factors that supported the role included organisational support, level of influence and dedicated time.
The NMP lead plays a significant role in the development and implementation of NMP. Clear national guidance is needed with regards to the functions of this role, the necessary attributes for individuals recruited into this post and the time that should be designated to it. This is important as prescribing is extended to include other groups of non-medical healthcare professionals.
扩大护士、药剂师及专职医疗人员的职责范围以涵盖处方权，已被视为改善医疗服务的一种方式。在英国，如今超过5万名非医疗保健专业人员具备了处方权。实施非医疗处方（NMP）对于实现潜在投资回报至关重要。英国卫生部建议设立一位NMP负责人，负责在各机构内实施NMP。本研究的目的是探讨NMP负责人在一个战略健康管理局（SHA）下属各机构中的作用，并为未来规划提供信息，内容涉及担任此角色的标准、该角色的职责范围以及促使该角色成功履行的因素。
与一个SHA的39位NMP负责人进行了接触。开展了半结构化电话访谈。探讨的问题包括NMP负责人的感知角色、安全及临床治理程序以及该角色的促进因素。对转录的录音带进行编码，并使用主题分析技术进行分析。
总共采访了39位中的27位（69.2%）NMP负责人。研究结果凸显了NMP负责人在国民医疗服务信托机构内对NMP的支持与发展所发挥的关键作用。任命NMP负责人的流程缺乏明确性，各信托机构之间也存在差异。只有两位NMP负责人有指定的或专门用于其角色的时间。战略影响、运营管理和临床治理被确定为关键职能。支持该角色的因素包括组织支持、影响力水平和专门时间。
NMP负责人在NMP的发展与实施中发挥着重要作用。需要就该角色的职能、招聘担任此职位人员所需具备的必要特质以及应指定给该角色的时间提供明确的国家指导。这一点很重要，因为处方权正在扩大到包括其他非医疗保健专业人员群体。
