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Allied health professionals, including physiotherapists, are to be given extended prescribing rights and further abilities to supply medicines under government proposals.
Under the proposals, which were published in a consultation document on 5 August 2025, physiotherapist independent prescribers (IPs) may be able to prescribe further controlled drugs; diagnostic radiographers could become IPs; and paramedics could be able to supply a wider range of controlled drugs and prescription-only medicines (POMs).
Currently, physiotherapist IPs are able to prescribe certain controlled drugs, including temazepam, diazepam and fentanyl, and the proposals would extend this to include codeine phosphate, tramadol hydrochloride, pregabalin and gabapentin.
“It is worth noting that physiotherapist IPs were previously able to prescribe tramadol, gabapentin and pregabalin prior to changes in their controlled drug scheduling,” the consultation document said.
The document also noted that patients experience delays accessing treatment and disruption to continuity of care under the current prescribing restrictions, owing to the need to be referred to another prescriber to access medicines.
It said expanding the list of controlled drugs that physiotherapist IPs could prescribe would allow for prompt pain relief for patients, as well as reduce pressure on NHS services by avoiding unnecessary referrals and appointments.
Pip White, professional adviser to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), commented: “This long-awaited consultation is the culmination of sustained influencing by the CSP to improve patient care and experience and maximise the capabilities of our prescribing members to meet patient need.
“Physiotherapy prescribing now has an established evidence-base of being safe, cost-effective and valued by patients.”
The government has also proposed expanding medicines responsibilities for paramedics by extending the list of POMs they can administer in an emergency, including dexamethasone, magnesium sulfate, tranexamic acid and flumazenil.
Tracy Nicholls, chief executive of the College of Paramedics, said: “The College of Paramedics has campaigned over many years for these changes, and we welcome the consultation.
“This is a vital opportunity for paramedics to shape the future of our profession and ensure that our expertise is recognised in the safe, effective, and timely administration of medicines.”
The document also outlined plans to enable operating department practitioners to supply and administer medicines using patient group directions, and permit diagnostic radiographers to train as IPs.
The consultation closes on 28 October 2025.
