Practice Guidance for Radiographer Independent and/or Supplementary Prescribers (Second Edition)

This practice guidance provides information which should underpin the decision-making and actions of radiographers who are annotated with their regulator the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), either as radiographer independent and/or supplementary prescribers.

From 2005 both diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers could qualify as supplementary prescribers (SP), from 2016 therapeutic radiographers have been able to qualify as independent prescribers (IP). Since 2005, all radiographers who are qualified as supplementary prescribers can prescribe controlled drugs using this mechanism (but not cocaine, diamorphine or dipipanone for treating addiction). From December 31^st 2023 all therapeutic radiographer independent prescribers can prescribe from a list of Controlled Drugs where their scope of practice requires this.  

This guidance should be read in conjunction with Improving Patients’ Access to Medicines: A Guide to Implementing Diagnostic Radiographer and Therapeutic Radiographer Prescribing within the NHS in the UK (Second Edition). 

The SoR would like to express its gratitude for the significant leadership and work undertaken by Dianne Hogg on updating this document. Her efforts have been instrumental in ensuring that these documents are up-to-date and accurately interpret legislation.

We also wish to recognise the significant contributions of many others who have supported the work to achieve legislative change and to ensure that this guidance document is relevant and useful. Their contribution is acknowledged at the end of this document.