OTs and prescribing rights
27 March, 2026
7+ minute read
What is RCOT’s position on independent prescribing rights?
Independent prescribing rights are essential for advancing occupational therapy practice and improving outcomes for the people and communities we serve. While prescribing medications does not define our professional practice, the absence of prescribing rights creates unnecessary barriers.
It limits the effectiveness of our profession in certain roles and settings, and sometimes affects the quality, continuity and efficiency of care. We want to see the legislative change needed to enable independent prescribing for occupational therapists across the UK.
Why do independent prescribing rights for occupational therapists' matter?
Extending prescribing rights to a wider range of healthcare professionals, including occupational therapists, can bring major benefits to patient care and professional practice in certain roles.
Our members tell us that enhanced prescribing responsibilities would:
- Deliver better quality and continuity of care
- Meet the needs of the people we serve in a more timely way
- Reduce pressure on the health and care system
- Support professional development in certain roles
- Provide parity with other professions
How can occupational therapists currently administer medicines?
Occupational therapists can currently enable safe access to medicines for patients via Patient Group Directions. Where possible, these existing prescribing rights should be used. While this shows OTs can be trusted with the responsibility of prescribing, we know these aren’t enough. By not providing independent prescribing rights for UK occupational therapists, we’re adding layers of bureaucracy to an overstretched NHS, and slowing down the care and support that patients need.
What is RCOT doing to lobby for this change?
#PrescribingNow Campaign
Together with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, the British Dietetic Association, the British and Irish Orthoptic Society and the Society of Radiographers, we’ve come together as allies through the #PrescribingNow campaign. As six organisations representing Allied Health Professionals (AHP) bodies, we are using our collective voice to call on the UK government to use the power it has under the Medicines and Medical Devices Act (2021) to extend independent prescribing responsibilities for our professions.
In March 2026 we wrote to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to set out the requirement of enhanced prescribing responsibilities and to urge change.
Prescribing Now: Timeline of Action
- February 2023: Wrote to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, as well as all members of Parliament and members of the House of Lords
- Throughout 2023: Engaged with MPs and peers, resulting in numerous parliamentary questions and discussions to raise awareness and support for the campaign.
- December 2023: The House of Lords Integration of Primary and Community Care Committee published a report recommending the extension of independent prescribing and referral rights to more allied health professionals.
- February 2024: Lord Bradley had an Oral Question
- October 2024: To mark AHPs Day, a delegation from the coalition handed in a letter to the Department of Health and Social Care
- March 2026: Wrote another letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care urging change.
What needs to happen next?
A formal consultation, regulatory review, and amendments under the Medicines and Medical Devices Act (2021) need to be made to extend independent prescribing rights. These processes take time and rely on sustained political commitment.
To move this forward, we need:
- Government agreement to begin the process
- Regulators to undertake the necessary consultation and impact assessment
- Evidence from the profession to demonstrate the need and the benefits
We’ll continue advocating at every stage, but it is important to recognise that legislative change is complex and can take several years, even when there is broad support.
How can we influence together?
The most powerful way to collectively influence is to connect, share knowledge and collaborate on RCOT Communities.
Join in the conversation on RCOT Communities
In February 2026, members of RCOT’s Policy and Practice Team met with a group of RCOT members with a joint ambition to gain prescribing rights for the profession.
We collectively agreed to take action by:
- Keeping members updated on progress in a timely way.
- Capturing evidence and examples to build a case for change.
- Supporting RCOT members to influence within their local area by providing a letter template to share with your local MP.