Patient group directions

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]

As define 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
  1. "Patient Group Directions | Guidance and guidelines". NICE. March 2017.
  2. "About us". Voyager Medical. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  3. "Legislation.gov".
  4. "Patient group directions: who can use them". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
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