Ab1614-HPR How Many Rheumatology Physiotherapists in the Uk Are Able to Support Their Rheumatology Team as Prescribers?

Background: The NHS England Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Rheumatology Report published in 2021 identified that Rheumatology departments were not getting best use of the multidisciplinary skills mix of their teams, and that this expertise could be harnessed to address capacity challenges, optimise services, and increase service resilience and sustainability. One way in which the skills and experience of Rheumatology Physiotherapists may be better used in rheumatology would be through the use of their non-medical independent prescribing capabilities. Physiotherapists have had the right to prescribe following appropriate training and Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC) annotation since 2005, with independent prescribing legislated in 2013. Objectives: This project aimed to review published data and search registers to establish current numbers of Rheumatology Physiotherapists who have completed the training and are acting as non-medical prescribers in Rheumatology services. Methods: A literature review was undertaken to September 2023 on physiotherapy skills and competencies, and physiotherapists using prescribing capabilities and undertaking medicines management activities in rheumatology settings. As an up-to-date additional source of information, a search of the publicly available the HCPC registry was undertaken in relation to members of the UK Rheumatology Physiotherapists Clinical Interest Group to identify physiotherapists who have attained prescribing rights. Results: Review of published literature identified four papers by UK authors, however only one included a figure for total numbers of physiotherapist prescribers. A survey in November 2019 reported from a cohort of ninety-seven physiotherapists surveyed a total of 20% who had achieved their prescribing rights. An up-to-date picture of physiotherapists potentially prescribing is offered by analysis of the HCPC database. When inputting names from the 260 physiotherapists who were members of the Rheumatology Physiotherapy Clinical Interest Group, and working in rheumatology services, it was found, in July 2023, that 31% were prescribers. Conclusion: There are an increasing number of rheumatology physiotherapists who have completed training to prescribe and have the ability to support medicines management with rheumatology patient cohorts within their specialty knowledge. Whilst this was a physiotherapist project, it can be seen that this expansion in rheumatology prescribing workforce is also including specialist nurses, pharmacists and podiatrists. This review indicates the opportunity to utilise this workforce's expertise more extensively in rheumatology service delivery including in undertaking new and review patient appointments in rheumatology services. Supporting increased capabilities in the areas of prescribing, medicines management, monitoring and optimisation can be seen as a key part of a move towards more advanced practice roles for the broader rheumatology work force. This is encouraging for the GIRFT identified prerogative to improve the use of the multidisciplinary skill mix in Rheumatology teams. REFERENCES: 1 NHS Getting It Right First Time (2021) Rheumatology. Accessed 02-JAN-2024 from https://gettingitrightfirsttime.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Rheumatology-Jul21h-NEW.pdf. 2 Gregory, W.J., Burchett, S. and McCrum, C. (2021), National survey of the current clinical practices of the UK rheumatology physiotherapists: A short report. Musculoskeletal Care, 19: 136-141. https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.1516. Acknowledgements: NIL. Disclosure of Interests: William Gregory W.G. has received honoraria for speaking sessions with Abbvie, Novartis, Pfizer, Sobi and UCB, Carol McCrum C.McC has received honorarium for speaker commitments from Abbvie and Novartis.