Asked by: Lord Butler of Brockwell (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 24 July (HL9391), whether the legislation needed to enable prescribing of controlled drugs by paramedic independent prescribers is capable of being made by statutory instrument; and if so, what is the reason for their delay in making it.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
I reaffirm that the Government intends to legislate to enable prescribing of controlled drugs by paramedic independent prescribers alongside other changes relating to use of controlled drugs in healthcare by podiatrists, therapeutic radiographer independent prescribers, and those acting under Patient Group Directions.
The changes are capable of being made by a Statutory Instrument and we will bring forward legislation as soon as possible, but this will remain subject to Parliamentary procedure.
Asked by: Lord Butler of Brockwell (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the letter from the then Minister of State at the Home Office to the Chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, dated 30 September 2022, what is the reason for the delay in making the regulatory changes to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, with particular reference to the prescribing of controlled drugs by paramedic independent prescribers.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government responded to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) on 3 October 2022 about paramedic independent prescribers.
As the letter indicates, the Government intends to legislate to enable prescribing of controlled drugs by paramedic independent prescribers alongside other changes relating to use of controlled drugs in healthcare by podiatrists, therapeutic radiographer independent prescribers, and those acting under Patient Group Directions. We will bring forward legislation as soon as possible, but this will remain subject to Parliamentary procedure.
Asked by: Lord Butler of Brockwell (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the letter from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to the Minister of State for Crime, Policing and the Fire Service and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care on 18 October 2019, what plans they have to amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 to enable paramedics (1) to prescribe, and (2) to administer, the drugs specified by NHS England.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government is considering the advice provided by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on the independent prescribing and administration of specified controlled drugs by paramedics and intends to respond in the near future.
The Home Office works closely with the Department of Health and Social Care on issues concerning the use of controlled drugs in healthcare, and this timescale reflects the balance of priorities within Government, in particular in addressing COVID-19. The response will be published on gov.uk.