Patients needing medicines in an emergency will be treated more quickly under plans to expand nurse prescribing announced by health minister John Hutton.

Government Response: Department of Health

Health minister John Hutton said:"Extending nurse prescribing is an important part of our commitment to modernise the NHS. By breaking down traditional prescribing roles, patients can more easily access the treatment they need and are able to more fully benefit from the NHS' highly skilled workforce.

"Today's proposals will particularly improve emergency care for patients and help to relieve the burden on staff working in A&E."

Forum Response: Royal College of Nursing

Matt Griffiths, joint prescribing and medicines managing advisor at the RCN, told ePolitix.com: "We welcome the proposed consultation and medicines included. But we are still in favour of the British National Formulary being opened up to nurses and limited only by competancy."

Forum Response: Nursing and Midwifery Council

Stuart Skyte of the NMC told ePolitix.com: "This is a good next step in the development of nurse prescribing. It will bring benefits to patients and the health services.

"But the NMC would like to see a faster move towards the British National Formulary being open to nurses to prescribe. Only then will the full benefits of nurse prescibing be seen."