AN East Lancashire physiotherapist has become one of the first in the county to qualify as a non-medical prescriber.

Simon Snape, an advanced neuro-physiotherapist at East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, has recently achieved the qualification.

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Simon is the first physio in East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust to qualify as an independent prescriber – and one of the first in the country since legislative changes in August 2013 permitted them to do so.

It means he can prescribe muscle-relaxing drugs such as baclofen and tizanidine, and neurogenic painkillers such as amitriptyline.

To gain the qualification, which will allow him to prescribe medicines directly for his patients, he had to attend classes at the University of Salford over a six-month period.

Non-medical prescribing is undertaken by a health professional who is not a doctor and allows them to prescribe medicine for health conditions within their field of expertise.

Research has shown that non-medical prescribing has improved the quality of service to patients in terms of convenience and also of improved clinical outcomes.

Simon said: “The course was academically very challenging as well as being difficult to balance with my work, but I think the effort is worth it now. It will make access to spasticity management medications much easier, and as physiotherapists we are often in the best position to prescribe to the patients we see.”

Dianne Hogg, non-medical prescribing lead for the trust said: “Simon has a very clear view about his role as a non-medical prescriber and it’s a great asset for physiotherapy to have him in the team with this skill. This new part of his role will really improve the care he’s able to give to his patients .

“We’ll ensure he receives great supportfrom his manager and medical colleagues to undertake the role safely and competently.”

. Previously there were restrictions to prescribing in accordance with a clinical management plan.