Social Care Nurses to Prescribe Medicines in Landmark Reforms

A major reform aimed at upskilling carers is set to be launched by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, allowing social care nurses to prescribe medicines and paving the way for carers across England to gain the extra qualification. This move is a direct response to the Mirror's Fair Care for All campaign, which has been demanding a properly resourced social care service with improved pay and training for carers. The new training will enable social care nurses to prescribe medicines for a range of conditions, including cardiovascular disease, infections, and end-of-life care.

Key Takeaways:

• The pilot program will start in seven areas of the country and be trialled with 150 nurses to assess how it frees up doctors' time and helps elderly people stay out of hospital.
• The new training will allow social care nurses to prescribe medicines for a range of conditions, including cardiovascular disease, infections, and end-of-life care.
• The qualification contributes to nurses' Continuing Professional Development (CPD) which supports career progression and may support future promotions.
• The Labour government has implemented the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for care workers to help reverse the trend of declining pay.
• The new pilot follows a move by the Government to embed social care placements in nursing degrees, part of a series of measures to professionalise the social care workforce and provide more opportunities for learning and career progression.
• The Casey Review of adult social care, launched by the Labour government, will report by 2026 and focus on changes that can be made over the medium term within existing resources, while the second phase will consider "the long-term transformation of adult social care" by 2028.

Statistics:

• 150 nurses will be part of the pilot program to assess the impact of prescribing medicines in social care.
• 7 areas of the country will be involved in the initial pilot program.
• The Measure aims to "boost the careers of nurses in adult social care" through prescribing medicines.
• The social care workforce is expected to benefit from more opportunities for learning and career progression.

Sources:

• By, Martin Bagot
• "Government to trial social care nurses prescribing medicines", The Mirror
• Royal College of Nursing
• Labour Party
• Department of Health and Social Care
• Casey Review of adult social care