Patient group directions explained
Patient Group Directions (PGDs) are medico-legal documents in the U.K. National Health Service that permit the supply of prescription-only medicines to groups of patients, without individual prescriptions.[1] The first digital version of an authorised PGD was created by the pharmacist Wojtek Michael Bereza.[2]
Legal requirements details
As defined by the Human Medicines Regulations 2012,[3] a PGD must include:
- the name of the business who owns the direction
- the start and end date of the PGD
- a description of the medicine(s)
- the class of the health professional who can supply or administer the medicine
- a signature of a doctor or dentist (as appropriate) and a pharmacist
- authorisation by an appropriate organisation: Authorising PGDS
- the clinical condition or situation to which the direction applies (eg the specified condition/conditions that can be treated)
- a description of patients excluded from treatment under the direction
- a description of when you should get more advice from a doctor (or dentist, as appropriate) and arrangements for referral
- details of appropriate dosage, maximum total dosage, quantity, pharmaceutical form and strength, route and frequency of administration, and minimum or maximum period to administer the medicine
- relevant warnings, including potential adverse reactions
- details of any necessary follow-up actions
- a statement of the records to be kept for audit purposes
Healthcare practitioner usage
Only qualified, registered healthcare professionals can supply medicines under PGD, these include:[4]
- chiropodists and podiatrists
- dental hygienists
- dental therapists
- dieticians
- midwives
- nurses
- occupational therapists
- optometrists
- orthoptists
- orthotists and prosthetists
- paramedics
- pharmacists
- physiotherapists
- radiographers
- speech and language therapists
References
- Web site: Patient Group Directions Guidance and guidelines. NICE. March 2017.
- Web site: About us. 2022-02-24. Voyager Medical. en-US.
- Web site: Legislation.gov .
- Web site: Patient group directions: who can use them . 2022-07-19 . GOV.UK . en.
