UK physiotherapists gain prescribing powers
21 August, 2013
Physiotherapy New Zealand is welcoming a world-first decision by the UK Department of Health to give physiotherapists
limited prescribing rights.
Suitably trained physios in the UK will now be able to independently prescribe medicines without a doctor authorising
their decision.
Physiotherapy New Zealand President Gill Stotter says this is a landmark step for the profession and an important move
towards greater recognition of the role physios can play.
“This is a change that we will be watching closely and we will be evaluating if this is something that could work in the
New Zealand environment into the future. The obvious benefits of the scheme are freeing up GP time and patients
receiving faster treatment."
Information on changes to prescribing rights in the United Kingdom:
Physiotherapists in the UK have been supplementary prescribers since 2005, which means that doctors had to sign off on
their decisions.
The UK Department of Health has announced that suitably trained UK physiotherapists will be able to become independent
prescribers, a world first.
Independent prescribing rights have also been provided to podiatrists.
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