The scope of professional practice in specialist practice

The Scope of Professional Practice (UKCC, 1994a) now offers nurses, midwives and health visitors new opportunities to develop their clinical role. Role expansion is at the centre of debate in the health service. In the spirit of Scope, trusts and regional health authorities have been experimenting with new roles that combine medical and nursing practice in order to promote a holistic approach to health care. Education, experience and the appropriate clinical competency are the foundations for role expansion and the development of professional practice. However, some of the new roles and innovative practices have also been targeted at reducing junior doctors' hours (Read and Graves, 1994). New roles must be evaluated before they are allowed to develop and there is an urgent need for national evaluation of the initiatives underpinning Scope. This article examines the changing role of practitioners in specialist practice. The ethical, professional and legal issues surrounding these changes will also be considered.