In Profession

Follow this topic

Bookmark

Record learning outcomes

PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe (pictured) has criticised the "shameful" lack of will on behalf of NHS organisations to tackle prescription direction, and promised that her organistion would continue to do whatever it could to resolve the problem.

"We've been battling to get the competent authorities to do something about it," said Ms Sharpe at yesterday's LPC conference in Birmingham. PSNC's greatest frustration was that, having got GPs' terms of service changed to prohibit prescription direction a few years ago, that ruling had been ignored. "It's been abominable."

Ms Sharpe also warned that the prescribing of branded generics was becoming an increasing problem as CCGs encouraged the practice to make local savings at NHS expense. She highlighted the distinction between the "pernicious practice" of prescribing "bog standard" branded generics and the appropriate prescribing of those with clinical justification such as drugs with a narrow therapeutic index. "We hope to nail this problem once and for all following our next planning meeting."