Extended formulary nurse prescribing--another saliva substitute roadblock

United Kingdom family physicians, General Practitioners (GPs), are allowed to prescribe from a Department of Health-approved list of non-medicines (the 'ACBS' list) which includes a majority of proprietary saliva substitutes. Independent nurse prescribing, introduced in 2001, has improved patient access to effective remedies for a wide range of common medical problems. Further qualified 'extended formulary nurse prescribers' have access to a limited range of prescription medicines, and all non-prescription medicines that GPs may currently prescribe. Despite their specified role in the management of oral complications encountered in palliative care, a similar anomaly in NHS rules that prevents dental practitioners from prescribing ACBS listed saliva substitutes also prevents nurses from prescribing them. Sadly, patients are suffering poorer access to simple and effective remedies to conditions such as xerostomia - a condition that has recognised impact on their quality of life.