Prescribing Request from Midwives

At Derby and Derbyshire Local Medical Committee (DDLMC) we have received a number of queries from practices questioning an increased level of prescription requests from midwife teams. We understand that one of the main drivers for this is that the secondary care prescribers can only prescribe for their hospital pharmacy, and they have been keen to avoid, sometimes highly inconvenient, trips back to the hospital for the patient to collect their medication.

Template letters are available by signing in, under templates and recourses - Prescribing.

We know that GPs are always keen to work with colleagues in the wider healthcare system to provide the safest and most efficient service for Derbyshire patients. However, secondary care antenatal departments are commissioned and funded to prescribe medicines related to that antenatal care and GPs are not contractually obliged to do this work on their behalf. A small number of practices in the Chesterfield area have, we understand, already given notice to CRH that will not be prescribing in the future.

Practices may, of course, decide that they want to continue to acquiesce to midwife prescribing requests. However, DDLMC is writing to both the ICB and the relevant hospital trusts to advise them of the contents of this email and that some practices may decide unfunded work like this is incompatible with delivering a safe and compliant service under their core contract.

Depending on individual circumstances, it may be that practices want to cease straight away. Alternatively, it may be more collegiate to give notice to the midwives of the intention to cease. This will give them a short period of time to adjust their existing prescribing pathway in order to minimise patient inconvenience.

We have enclosed a template notice letter that could be used, as well as an information leaflet that can be given to patients.

If you have any queries, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at our normal email address ddlmc.office@nhs.net