§ Baroness Cumberlegeasked Her Majesty's Government:
In view of the successful evaluation of nurse prescribing pilot schemes, whether they will allocate specific funding to every health authority so that all district nurses and health visitors will be able to prescribe by the year 2000; and [HL1153]
Whether they will ensure that a strategy is in place and fully funded to extend nurse prescribing to all 246WA specialist nurses working in community and acute settings, so that they will be able to prescribe by the year 2005. [HL1154]
§ The Minister of State, Department of Health (Baroness Jay of Paddington)The Government will shortly announce their response to the evaluation of the current nurse prescribing pilots. We await the outcome of the Crown Review of Prescribing, Supply and Administration of Medicines, before any decisions are taken on extending prescribing rights to other groups of nurses.