Frequently asked questions
Advancing from Supplementary to Independent Prescribing application process
Q: How is this programme funded?
A: All applicants who are NHS employees within the Health Education North East (HENE) catchment area will be eligible for funding under Tier 1. If you do not fit into this category you must contact the programme lead, Bernadette Martin. You will not be able to access the programme without confirmed funding is in place.
Q: How do I ensure that my organisation will support my application?
A: You must follow your organisation’s process for application; if you work for an NHS trust you will find the process for this in the trust’snon-medical prescribing policy. Your non-medical prescribing lead must approve your application. They are verifying that your organisation has the clinical governance frameworks in place to support you whilst you undertake the programme which will enable to move from supplementary prescribing to independent prescribing once you are a qualified prescriber. This is a Health and Care Professions Council(HCPC) requirement. You must have this process in place before applying to the University. This is your responsibility and we will not offer any place on the programme without full approval.
IF YOU FAIL TO FOLLOW THIS PROCESS, YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE PROGRESSED.
The following individuals lead non-medical prescribing in the local NHS trusts and will be happy to discuss your application with you.
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Carole Norris, lead nurse – medicine management and non-medical prescribing
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Judith Connor, lead nurse – patient safety andpractice development
County Durham and DarlingtonNHS Foundation Trust
Sarah Nicholson, medicines management lead
North Tees and Hartlepool Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Community)
Alda Hummelink, lead pharmacist, Integrated Care Services Directorate Medicine (Community)
North Tees and Hartlepool Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Acute)
Lesley Wharton, assistant director, Nursing and Infection Prevention and Control
City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Paul Johnson, nurse consultant
South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust
Lesley Johnstone,non-medical prescribing lead
Newcastleupon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Lorna Clark, non-medical prescribing lead
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
Mark Thomas, lead pharmacist
If you do not work within a trust, you will need to find out who has responsibility for non-medical prescribing in your organisation.
Your manager or clinical lead must be responsible for verifying that you meet the HCPC requirements to prescribe – these are detailed on the website. They must respond to the email which will be sent to them when you provide their contact details on your application form.
They will also confirm that you will be supported to have the required minimum 15 hours supervised practice.
Q: Why do I need to include the name and email contact for my manager, designated medical practitioner andnon-medical prescribing lead on my application form?
A: We need these contact details to ensure that we can email to verify that they will support your application. They will all be asked to verify your application. You will not be offered a place until we have these approvals. It is your responsibility to check that they have responded. Please ensure that you correctly detail an email address as this will delay your progress.
Q: Why do I need a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) which is satisfactory and has been undertaken within the last three months?
A: This is a HCPC requirement. If you do not have this in place you must do so before a place is offered. Your DBS must be in date throughout the duration of your time on the programme. Your manager is required to provide the University with your DBS number and date on the email which verifies their support for you to undertake the programme. It is your responsibility to check this is in place. NHS trusts are fully aware of this and all other requirements so are prepared for applicants who require DBS check updates.
Q: Why do I need a medical doctor as a DMP?
A:Again this is an HCPC requirement. You must identify a medical mentor before applying as you will be required to include the contact name and email of your mentor. The University will contact this person and they will need to verify that they meet the requirements to mentor a non-medical prescribing student. Your DMP will verify that they meet the requirements set out in the National Prescribing Centre document, Training non-medical prescribers in practice: A guide to help doctors prepare for and carry out the role of designated medical practitioner.
Your DMP is responsible for your learning and assessment while you are in supervised practice. It is important to also spend time with other prescribing professionals including non-medical prescribers.
If you have any questions which are not answered here please contact either
Bernadette Martin,,tel: 01642 384966
Debbie Osborne,