Following a public consultation in April 2011, the General Medical Council (GMC) has just issued new guidelines to doctors on how to prescribe medicine safely. These come into force on 25 February 2013.

Niall Dickson, Chief Executive of the General Medical Council, is reported to have stated that “safe prescribing is at the heart of good medicine and it’s a skill that doctors must develop and keep up to date throughout their careers”

The guidelines include advice on medical devices, the use of unlicensed medicines, the prescription of performance-enhancing drugs and the remote prescription of injectable cosmetics such as Botox.

Doctors are reminded to report any adverse incidents involving drugs, medical devices such as X-ray and other imaging equipment, pacemakers, artificial joints and anaesthetic equipment.

Mr Dickson said ‘We very much hope doctors will find this guidance useful, not least in making clear what is expected from them so patients receive the best possible treatment and care.’

The guidelines can be found on the GMC’s website