Update for Diabetes Nurse Specialists
On 13 October 2006, the Ministry of Health undertook to review the policy relating to the Medicines (Standing Orders) Regulations 2002 (the Regulations), submissions closed on 1 December 2006.
Following analysis of the submissions the Ministry identified an issue relating to the timely, appropriate and safe access to prescription-only medicines by registered nurses (RN), and ultimately patient.
The Ministry is now identifying a means by which to develop a collaborative prescribing policy. It is intended the policy will recognise a RN's individual competence and better reflect this in the supervisory requirements set down for RNs when accessing medicines.
This policy will not do away with the need for Standing Orders but will provide a mechanism to fill the gap between the highly restrictive supervisory requirements imposed by Standing Orders and the ability to independently prescribe.
While the collaborative prescribing policy is being developed individuals and/or organisations continue to be responsible for the safety of patients in their care. If an organisation is having difficulties complying with the Standing Orders (for example, due to the volume of medicines supplied and/or administered), then the organisation must notify the Ministry and must establish a process to assess the ongoing safety of services provided by practitioners.
It should be stressed that the purpose of notification is not for Ministry approval; rather it is to inform the Ministry of alternate arrangements to attempt to comply with the intent of the Regulations.
When the collaborative prescribing policy is complete the Ministry will expect all RNs accessing medicines to do so in accordance with the most appropriate mechanism as applicable to the service deliver environment they work in.