• Lucy Ziegler, Mike Bennett, Alison Blenkinsopp, and Sally Coppock.
• Academic Unit of Palliative Care, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK l.e.ziegler@leeds.ac.uk.
• Palliat Med. 2015 Feb 1; 29 (2): 177-81.

BackgroundThe United Kingdom is considered to be the world leader in nurse prescribing, no other country having the same extended non-medical prescribing rights. Arguably, this growth has outpaced research to evaluate the benefits, particularly in areas of clinical practice where patients have complex co-morbid conditions such as palliative care. This is the first study of non-medical prescribing in palliative care in almost a decade.AimTo explore the current position of nurse prescribing in palliative care and establish the impact on practice of the 2012 legislative changes.DesignAn online survey circulated during May and June 2013.ParticipantsNurse members (n = 37) of a regional cancer network palliative care group (61% response rate).ResultsWhile this survey found non-medical prescribers have embraced the 2012 legislative changes and prescribe a wide range of drugs for cancer pain, we also identified scope to improve the transition from qualified to active non-medical prescriber by reducing the time interval between the two.ConclusionTo maximise the economic and clinical benefit of non-medical prescribing, the delay between qualifying as a prescriber and becoming an active prescriber needs to be reduced. Nurses who may be considering training to be a non-medical prescriber may be encouraged by the provision of adequate study leave and support to cover clinical work. Further research should explore the patients' perspective of non-medical prescribing.© The Author(s) 2014.

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