Patients will benefit from allowing podiatrists to prescribe medicines

Allowing podiatrists to prescribe medicines will help provide "an enhanced level of care" to patients, according to a leading UK podiatry spokesperson and Durham University expert. Proposals for changes to legislation, announced by Ministers, will mean podiatrists could be granted independent prescribing responsibilities for the first time. This will mean that rather than having to refer patients to other health care professionals, such as GPs, for prescriptions, podiatrists will be able to prescribe medicines relevant to their scope of practice and help reduce any delays in treatment. Podiatrists are statutorily registered autonomous health professionals who focus on the diagnosis, management and treatment of foot and lower limb disorders. Judith Barbaro-Brown, a Teaching Fellow at Durham University's School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health, and Senior Academic Advisor to the Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, welcomed the announcement. She said: "This is a world-leading initiative that has significant benefit for a number of groups. "Podiatrist are highly-trained clinicians, and those who can prescribe independently will be able to provide an enhanced level of care within their specialised areas of practice, such as in diabetes, musculo-skeletal medicine, and lower limb vascular disease.