Two Forth Valley dietitians are among only six in Scotland to recently achieve a prescribing qualification, one of them being the first in the country to become a non medical prescriber in an acute setting.

It was only recently that the dietetic profession have been able to work towards an advanced qualification in prescribing and NHS Forth Valley dietitians – Julie Frazer (based at Forth Valley Royal Hospital) and Laura Troiano (based at Stirling Community Hospital) have recently completed their courses.

The non-medical prescribing course includes the education and practical experience to become safe prescribers within their clinical remit.   It means as well as prescribing nutritional supplements and tube feeds, they can prescribe parenteral nutrition and medication to support dietetic care such as motility drugs, pancreatic enzymes, vitamins and minerals and diabetes medications.

This is a great personal achievement but also an exciting time for the profession.

NHS Forth Valley Acute Dietitian, Julie Fraser, said: “For us being the first in the profession is great but challenging. It raises the profile of dietetics and will not only enhance patient care but hopefully ease pressure on clinicians and extend dietetic roles.”

Laura Troiano, added: “This is a new opportunity for dietitians. We currently discuss medication within our dietetic practice but finally being able to advise on and prescribe relevant medication is a great benefit to the patient and other local services.”