UHI leads first in-depth evaluation prescribing by dietitians and therapeutic radiographers

A comprehensive new study has provided insights into the effectiveness and efficiency of supplementary prescribing by dietitians and independent prescribing by therapeutic radiographers. Conducted between March 2019 and April 2024, this research marks the first in-depth evaluation of prescribing practices within these professions, offering valuable information for key stakeholders.

The study provides valuable evidence for commissioners and managers on how the prescribing role can optimise the skills of allied health professionals, leading to improved care quality, enhanced sustainability, and significant cost savings. These findings will help guide future plans to extend prescribing responsibilities to other healthcare professionals.

Titled ‘Innovation in the Allied Health Professions: Evaluation of Supplementary Prescribing by Dietitians and Independent Prescribing by Therapeutic Radiographers,’ the study was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) policy research programme. It was led by Professor Nicola Carey, Head of the Centre for Rural Health Sciences at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), in collaboration with a team of experts from prominent institutions, including the University of Surrey, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, and the NHS. This partnership ensured a robust, multidisciplinary approach to the research.

The research was commissioned to assess the impact of recent legislative changes within their professional scope. Dietitians can now prescribe medicines under an agreed treatment plan with a doctor, a process known as ‘supplementary prescribing’ (D-SP). And therapeutic radiographers, who provide radiotherapy and manage its side effects, can now independently assess patients and prescribe medicines, referred to as ‘independent prescribing’ (TR-IP).

To ensure widespread access to the study's findings, dissemination efforts will include social media outreach, collaboration with voluntary organisations, and distribution of the executive and lay summaries. A recently developed ‘Prescribing Implementation Toolkit,’ co-produced with patients, has also been launched on the NHS Learning Hub to support healthcare professionals to maximise the benefits of the prescribing qualification.

An online dissemination event will take place on Friday 31 January 2025, bringing together healthcare professionals to discuss the study’s impact on patient care and service delivery, and to explore future directions for non-medical prescribing practices.

To attend the dissemination event, please visit the Eventbrite page to secure your place.

For further details and to access the full study outcomes, please visit: Evaluation of supplementary prescribing by dietitians and independent prescribing by therapeutic radiographers