The green light has been given by NHS England Chief Professionals Office for dental hygienists and dental therapists to pursue the quest to be able to provide prescription only medicines (POM), specifically local anaesthetic, topical anaesthetic and fluoride varnish, to patients without having to first get a prescription from a dentist.
This is considered an important milestone in the continued development of the role of dental hygienists and therapists in the UK.
the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT) and the British Association of Dental Therapists (BADT) have collaborated to undertake a scoping process with NHS England, assessing the need for use of further mechanisms to administer or supply POM for the profession.
The BADT and BSDHT are pursuing ‘exemptions to the Medicines Act’. Exemptions would mean that a list of prescription only medicines would be specified in legislation for dental therapists and dental hygienists to administer or supply.
Help needed
The societies want to hear how the inability to supply or administer certain medicines has so far impeded your ability to do your day-to-day job. Have you had to send away a patient with incomplete treatment because you cannot get a prescription?
Please email prescribing@bsdht.org.uk with your experience and the impact it had on you, your patient and your practice. Speak to your colleagues, and ask them to share their experiences.
While there are no guarantees about the end result, the profession must fight hard for what it needs; help the societies provide evidence for the future of the profession.
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