INDEPENDENT PRESCRIBING FOR PHYSIOTHERAPISTS

That this House welcomes the announcement that the necessary legislative changes have been made to allow advance practice physiotherapists in England to become the first group in the world able to independently prescribe medicines without a doctor authorising their decision; notes that on completion of appropriate training physiotherapists will have similar prescribing responsibilities to those of other non-medical professionals, like nurses and pharmacists; recognises the major improvements in care this development will deliver, with patients being offered quicker and more direct access to the medicines and treatments they need; and urges hon.Members representing constituencies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to work with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the devolved administrations to facilitate the similar legislative changes required in those countries to ensure all people in the UK have equitable access to the improvements in care this will deliver.