Plans to increase prescribing powers of student midwives

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is consulting on proposals to allow student midwives to administer parenteral medicines. 

At the moment, these medicines can only be administered by registered midwives under an exemption in medicines legislation.

The new proposals have been developed in association with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and would require changes to be made under the Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Order 1997.

MHRA believes that extending the responsibility of student midwives would benefit mothers and their babies, by ensuring the provision of safe midwifery services. It also argues that the proposed legislation change would give student midwives valuable experience in administering parenteral medicines, ensuring they are fit to practise by the time they qualify.

The proposed changes to legislation would apply to all midwifery services throughout the UK.

The consultation will close on 19 November 2010.