Prescribing Service for Nurses

To enable non-prescribing nurses to practice within their professional guidelines, Cosmetica Training has a network of prescribers across the UK who offer a prescribing service for Prescription Only Medicines (POMs).

The prescribing serivce works as follows:

• On receipt of a request from a nurse we identify the nearest prescriber in the area.
• We contact the nearest prescriber to confirm that they are prepared to work with you.
• We then put the nurse in touch with the prescriber.
• All further arrangements are made directly between the nurse and the prescriber.

Costs
Prescribers on our database have agreed to a consultation fee of £50 per client. For local consultations (within 5 miles) no additional charge is made for travel. However, if a nurse requests consultations beyond this distance, the prescriber may choose to negotiate an agreement for travel costs directly with the nurse.

NMC Guidance has been revised several times in recent months. The latest information we have is that NMC will no longer provide clinical advice to registrants. All clinical-related questions must be directed to the RCN if you are a member.

The latest RCN advice is as follows:

Botox: All clients require a face to face consultation with a prescriber prior to them prescribing an appropriate product and giving you a direction to administer.

Dermal Fillers: These may also be put on a prescription, in which case they are VAT free. However, a face to face consultation will be required. Alternatively you can order fillers directly from the pharmacy or manufacturer (without a script), in which case VAT is payable.

Insurance: If you use a doctor for your consultations, you must source commercial insurance as the RCN will not offer cover to any of its members where they are associated with a non RCN member. If you use a nurse prescriber however, they will cover your for administering treatments on condition that the nurse prescriber is also an RCN member. All insurance policies are invalidated if any registrant works against professional guidelines.

Working with a prescriber: If you know a Doctor, Dentist or Nurse Prescriber you can make a private arrangement for them to conduct consultations and prescribe Botox for your clients. We are able to help you locate a prescriber who is prepared to work with you through our network of prescribers.

Cosmetica Prescriber service: We have prescribers available across the UK and will put you in touch with someone in your area.

The process works as follows:

• On receipt of your postcode we will confirm if we have a prescriber in your area.
• We contact the nearest prescriber to confirm that they are prepared to work with you.
• This service is free if you have undertaken your initial training with Cosmetica. If you have undertaken your initial training elsewhere, we charge £300 + VAT for this service. We require £100 + VAT (non-returnable) deposit to begin the process and, if we are able to locate a prescriber for you we will collect the balance before putting you in touch.
• All further arrangements can be made directly with the prescriber.
• If for any reason, you are unable to agree an acceptable business arrangement with the prescriber, we will provide a second prescriber’s details (if there is one available in your area).

IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is provided solely for the assistance of Cosmetica customers. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy at the date of publication Cosmetica Training Ltd accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions. To protect your registration and to ensure you are fully compliant with the latest guidance you are strongly advised to seek advice from the appropriate governing body for your profession.

Doctors
In July 2012 the GMC stipulated that doctors must undertake face to face consultations prior to writing a prescription for any cosmetic medicine. Doctors are also not eligible to write a repeat prescription for any cosmetic item. However, as a doctor you are eligible to order stock of POMs from the pharmacy via a signed order and prescribe to each person you treat after the initial consultation. Holding stock means it has not been dispensed against a written private prescription so you will be charged VAT at 20%. If you prescribe for a nurse you are not allowed to give to them part of your stock. In order for a nurse to be able to administer from stock, she/he needs to be employed by/employ you within an aesthetic clinic.

Dentists
GDC registrants must undertake a face to face consultation prior to writing a prescription for use in an aesthetics clinic. Dentists have the same rights as a doctor in that they can order stock of POMs.

Nurse Prescribers
NMC Guidance has been revised several times in recent months. The latest information we have is that NMC will no longer provide clinical advice to registrants. All clinical-related questions must be directed to the RCN if you are a member. The latest RCN advice is as follows:

• Botox: All clients require a face to face consultation prior to prescribing an appropriate product plus a direction to administer.
• Dermal Fillers: This may also be put on a prescription, in which case it is VAT free. However, a face to face consultation will be required. Alternatively nurses can order directly from the pharmacy or manufacturer (without a script), in which case VAT is payable.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is provided solely for the assistance of Cosmetica customers. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy at the date of publication Cosmetica Training Ltd accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions. To protect your registration and to ensure you are fully compliant with the latest guidance you are strongly advised to seek advice from the appropriate governing body for your profession.