Opinion  

However, unfortunately this will take time so I do believe we need to take a pragmatic approach.

Most patients who receive end- of-life care have a GP or medical consultant involved in their care. Therefore, I'm sure it is possible to have a patient-specific plan, or a clinical management plan under supplementary prescribing. This would ensure the patient continues to receive the medications they need.

Rather than being alarmist, we should look at how we can remedy the situation, remaining inside the law.

We, at the ANP, will continue to lobby for the necessary arrangements to be made to enable nurses to prescribe for their patients exactly what they need. We will advise members on our progress.

Barbara Stuttle CBE, director of quality and nursing, Essex, and chair, Association for Nurse Prescribing.

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