Major new powers given to NHS pharmacists and dental hygienists will save patients time and worry

PHARMACY technicians and dental hygienists will be able to prescribe new drugs without the sign-off of a doctor or dentist, ministers have announced.

New plans aimed at freeing up senior medics’ time will allow staff to administer vaccines and provide consultations.

Dental hygienists and therapists will also be able to give patients pain relief and fluoride medications without having to consult a dentist first.

Primary care minister Andrew Leadsom said: “We want to give patients faster, simpler and fairer access to the care they need, when they need it.

“Giving these powers to pharmacy technicians, dental therapists and hygienists will do just that.

“We want to ensure our fantastic staff are recognised for the vital work that they do, working to their full scope of practice and delivering for everyone who walks through their doors.”

There are currently over 25,500 pharmacy technicians working in pharmacies across England, Scotland and Wales.

Some 9,733 dental hygienists and 6,198 dental therapists are also currently registered with the General Dental Council in the UK.

The move to give all of them greater powers come as part of the Government’s drive to cut waiting lists and improve access to primary care.

Early this year, ministers announced pharmacists would be able to treat seven new common conditions, which they say will free up 10million GP appointments a year.

Nicola Stockmann, of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK, said: “APTUK welcome this update to legislation, recognising the value of the pharmacy technician profession. 

“This is a landmark moment for the expansion of access for patients to pharmacy services in a pressured healthcare landscape without compromising patient care.” 

Miranda Steeples, of The British Society of Hygiene and Therapy, said: “BSDHT welcomes plans to enable our professions to work to the full extent of their skillset and give them new powers that enable them to offer patients the care they need.

“Everyone will benefit from an oral healthcare team that runs more smoothly and uses its time effectively.”

This will allow dental therapists and hygienists to deliver the care they have been trained and educated to deliver

Fiona SandomBritish Association of Dental Therapists

Professor Claire Anderson, of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: “Enabling pharmacy technicians to undertake further services under a Patient Group Direction (PGD) will increase capacity for pharmacy teams and further support consistency of services being offered within pharmacy.

“This will support transformational change within pharmacy teams and enable the further evolution of the pharmacist’s role into more complex clinical care.

“In keeping with wider discussions across pharmacy, it is essential that the accountability and professional responsibility of pharmacy technicians is clearly understood in situations where PGDs are being used.”

Fiona Sandom, of The British Association of Dental Therapists, said: “The British Association of Dental Therapists is delighted that dental therapists and dental hygienists will soon be able to supply and administer certain prescription only medicines to patients without a need for a Patients Specific Direction (PSD) or a Patient Group Direction (PGD). 

“This will allow dental therapists and dental hygienists to use their full scope of practice and deliver the care they have been trained and educated to deliver.”