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Written question asked by Robbie Moore (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 June 2026 (named day). A holding answer was provided on Tuesday, 23 June 2026. A substantive answer was provided by Preet Kaur Gill (Labour) on Thursday, 25 June 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Occupational Therapy: Prescriptions

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending independent prescribing rights to Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs); and whether his Department has plans to review the eligibility of ODPs to undertake non-medical prescribing qualifications and progress into Advanced Clinical Practitioner roles on the same basis as other Allied Health Professionals, including radiographers and paramedics.

Answer

Operating department practitioners are registered allied health professionals who support patients before, during, and after surgery, including in operating theatres and recovery areas.

The Government has no current plans to allow operating department practitioners to prescribe medicines independently. However, the Department has recently consulted on whether they should be able to use Patient Group Directions. These would allow them to supply and administer specified medicines to defined groups of patients without a prescription, where it is safe and appropriate to do so. The consultation received responses from healthcare professionals, organisations, and members of the public. The Government will publish a response, setting out next steps, in due course.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
10267
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Qualifications Prescriptions Occupational therapy
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk