Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Physiotherapist, Podiatrist or Chiropodist Independent Prescribers) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 and come into force on 1st May 2014.

Amendment of the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Scotland) Regulations 2004

2.  The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Scotland) Regulations 2004(2) are amended as follows.

3.  In regulation 2(1) (interpretation)-

(a)in the definition of "prescriber"-

(i)in sub-paragraph (c) omit "and";

(ii)after sub-paragraph (d) insert-

"(e)a physiotherapist independent prescriber; and

(f)a podiatrist or chiropodist independent prescriber,"; and

(b)in the appropriate places in the alphabetical order, insert the following definitions-

""physiotherapist independent prescriber" means a physiotherapist who is registered in Part 9 of the register maintained under article 5 of the Health and Social Work Professions Order 2001(3), and against whose name in that register is recorded an annotation signifying that the physiotherapist is qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as a physiotherapist independent prescriber;"; and

""podiatrist or chiropodist independent prescriber" means a podiatrist or chiropodist who is registered in Part 2 of the register maintained under article 5 of the Health and Social Work Professions Order 2001, and against whose name in that register is recorded an annotation signifying that the podiatrist or chiropodist is qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as a podiatrist or chiropodist independent prescriber;".

4.  In Schedule 5 (other contractual terms)-

(a)in sub-paragraphs (6) and (7) of paragraph 44 (provision of dispensing services) for "or a pharmacist independent prescriber" in each place it occurs substitute ", a pharmacist independent prescriber, a physiotherapist independent prescriber or a podiatrist or chiropodist independent prescriber"; and

(b)in sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) of paragraph 58 (independent nurse prescribers and supplementary prescribers) for "or a pharmacist independent prescriber" in each place it occurs substitute ", a pharmacist independent prescriber, a physiotherapist independent prescriber or a podiatrist or chiropodist independent prescriber".

Amendment of the National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Section 17C Agreements) (Scotland) Regulations 2004

5.  The National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Section 17C Agreements) (Scotland) Regulations 2004(4) are amended as follows.

6.  In regulation 2 (interpretation)-

(a)in the definition of "prescriber"-

(i)in sub-paragraph (c) omit "and";

(ii)after sub-paragraph (d) insert-

"(e)a physiotherapist independent prescriber, and

(f)a podiatrist or chiropodist independent prescriber,"; and

(b)in the appropriate places in the alphabetical order, insert the following definitions-

""physiotherapist independent prescriber" means a physiotherapist who is registered in Part 9 of the register maintained under article 5 of the Health and Social Work Professions Order 2001, and against whose name in that register is recorded an annotation signifying that the physiotherapist is qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as a physiotherapist independent prescriber;"; and

""podiatrist or chiropodist independent prescriber" means a podiatrist or chiropodist who is registered in Part 2 of the register maintained under article 5 of the Health and Social Work Professions Order 2001, and against whose name in that register is recorded an annotation signifying that the podiatrist or chiropodist is qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as a podiatrist or chiropodist independent prescriber;".

7.  In Schedule 1 (content of agreements)-

(a)in sub-paragraphs (6) and (7) of paragraph 15 (provision of dispensing services) for-

""or a pharmacist independent prescriber" in each place it occurs substitute ", a pharmacist independent prescriber, a physiotherapist independent prescriber or a podiatrist or chiropodist independent prescriber"; and

(b)in sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) of paragraph 28 (independent nurse prescribers and supplementary prescribers) for "or a pharmacist independent prescriber" in each place it occurs substitute ", a pharmacist independent prescriber, a physiotherapist independent prescriber or a podiatrist or chiropodist independent prescriber".

Amendment of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009

8.  The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009(5) are amended as follows.

9.  In regulation 2(1) (interpretation and application)-

(a)for "prescriber" substitute-

""prescriber" means-

(b)in the appropriate places in the alphabetical order, insert the following definitions-

""physiotherapist independent prescriber" means a physiotherapist who is registered in Part 9 of the register maintained under article 5 of the Health and Social Work Professions Order 2001, and against whose name in that register is recorded an annotation signifying that the physiotherapist is qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as a physiotherapist independent prescriber;"; and

""podiatrist or chiropodist independent prescriber" means a podiatrist or chiropodist who is registered in Part 2 of the register maintained under article 5 of the Health and Social Work Professions Order 2001, and against whose name in that register is recorded an annotation signifying that the podiatrist or chiropodist is qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as a podiatrist or chiropodist independent prescriber;".

10.  In paragraph 4(2)(c)(i)(bb) (provision of pharmaceutical services) of Schedule 1 (terms of service for pharmacists and pharmacy contractors) for "48" substitute "56".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 ("the GMS Regulations"), the National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Section 17C Agreements) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 ("the Section 17C Regulations") and the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 ("the 2009 Regulations"), by extending the definition of prescriber through the insertion of two new categories of independent prescriber: physiotherapist independent prescriber and podiatrist or chiropodist independent prescriber.

The GMS Regulations and the Section 17C Regulations contain rules about the supply of drugs, medicines or appliances by GPs, which are modified in relation to drugs, medicines or appliances prescribed by certain independent prescribers. Regulations 4(a) and 7(a) amend those modifications so that they also apply in the case of a physiotherapist independent prescriber or a podiatrist or chiropodist independent prescriber. Regulations 4(b) and 7(b) adds the new types of independent prescribers into provision requiring GPs to notify Health Boards when they engage or terminate a prescribing independent prescriber.

In addition, regulation 10 amends paragraph 4(2)(c)(i)(bb) of Schedule 1 to the 2009 Regulations to increase the period for which drugs, medicines or listed appliances under a serial prescription can be ordered from 48 to 56 weeks.