Prescribing Competency Framework: soon to be updated
I am an Advanced Therapy Radiographer at Bristol Cancer Institute working mainly in On Treatment Review making good use of Supplementary Prescribing. In 2012 I was invited along as an Active Prescriber to take part in the validation of the combined Prescribing Competency Framework and found it a very useful and interesting event.
Now that the Framework is up for revalidation I have been lucky enough to be part of the steering group and would like to make all Radiographers aware of the work being done and to highlight some of the important features.
Background
Many independent and supplementary prescribers, especially those who were amongst the first to qualify, will be very familiarwith the prescribing competency frameworks developed by the National Prescribing Centre (NPC) from 2001 – 2006. The frameworks were published by NPC and for the most part[1] commissioned by the Department of Health as part of a national programme to support the introduction of ‘non-medical’ prescribing.
As independent and supplementary prescribing was rolled out across a range of different healthcare professions, individual prescribing competency frameworks were developed in time to support each group of new prescribers. That meant that nurses and midwives[2], pharmacists[3], optometrists[4] and allied health professionals[5] were all supported by their own prescribing competency frameworks at the beginning of this exciting development in practice.
Once developed the frameworks were applied extensively in practice and used to underpin curricula development, as part of approved education programmes and to facilitate the ongoing continuing professional development of individual prescribers.
After several years of practical use and the cumulative experience of developing several frameworks it became apparent that, regardless of professional background, there is a common set of competencies associated with good prescribing. As a result in 2012 work was undertaken to consolidate the existing profession specific competency frameworksand then to update the resulting framework so as to provide just one prescribing competency framework[6]. The resulting single competency framework can be used byall prescribers regardless of their professional background, it applies equally to doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, optometrists and allied health professionals. It provides a common base on which the prescribing professions can build support for any prescriber.
Updating
The single framework was due for review in May 2014 however in April 2011 the NPC integrated into the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and became the Medicines and Prescribing Centre (MPC)[7]. NICE is not planning to update the framework instead incorporating the principles it contains into their medicines optimisation guideline[8].
It is, however, clear that the competency framework continues to be extensively used by existing prescribers as well as many of the higher education institutes that provide training for new prescribers. There also remains a need to support new professional groups as they begin the journey to becoming prescribers and it is crucial that the principle of a common set of competencies for all prescribing remains. NICE and Health Education England have therefore asked the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), the professional body for pharmacists if they would manage the updating of the competency framework on behalf of all the prescribing professions.
RPS began work on the update summer 2015 using a process consistent with that used for the previous competency frameworks and once complete will be applicable across the United Kingdom. The updatingprocess itself beganlate in 2015 with a programme of engagement andit is expected that the updated framework will be available from June 2016.
In updating the competency framework RPS are keen to engage with prescribers from across all professional groups.
The Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR) has representation in both the focus groups and reference group from Radiographer Prescribers and urge you to keep up to date with developments on the RPS website ( framework) and SCoR Prescribing workspace.
If anyone wishes to be involved please contact: Christina Freeman from the SCoR via: or Catherine Picton from RPS via:
I would like to thank Catherine Picton for her contribution to this article.
Hazel Boyce
Joint Review Lead
Bristol Cancer Institute
[1] The framework for Optometrists was commissioned by The General Optical Council
[2]National Prescribing Centre. Maintaining Competency in prescribing. An outline framework to help nurse prescribers. November 2001
[3]National Prescribing Centre. Maintaining Competency in Prescribing. An outline Framework to help pharmacist prescribers. Second Edition, October 2006.
[4]National Prescribing Centre and General Optical Council. Competency Framework for Prescribing Optometrists. May 2004
[5]National Prescribing Centre. Maintaining Competency in Prescribing. An outline Framework to help allied health professional supplementary prescribers. July 2004
[6]National Prescribing Centre. A single competency framework for all prescribers. May 2012
[7]The Medicines and Prescribing Centre can be found at:
[8]National Institute for health and Care Excellence. Medicines optimisation: the safe and effective use of medicines to enable the best possible outcomes. March 2015