According to the Department of Health, DH, patients can now be prescribed medicines by physiotherapists and podiatrists.

Medicines like anti-inflammatories and painkillers can be given to patients following suitable training.

In case a medication is needed then patients will no longer be referred back to GP by podiatrists and physiotherapists as they will be able to prescribe the medicines themselves.

A DH spokeswoman said, "Advanced practitioner physiotherapists and podiatrists in the UK would be the first in the world to be able to independently prescribe medicines where clinically appropriate."

The new legislation is expected to get executed from next April that will allow physiotherapists to prescribe medicines for issues such as chronic pain and respiratory diseases such as asthma. Patients will get medicines from podiatrists, who treat disorders of the foot, ankle and lower leg.

People who will actually get benefitted by this step will be people having diabetes, according to the College of Podiatry as these people have infections of the feet along with people suffering from other infections such as wounds and ingrown toenails and fungal infections.

This step has been welcomes by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy CSP.