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When PGDs can be used

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Topics: Patient Group DirectionsSummary advice

Understanding when PGDs are a suitable mechanism for the supply and/or administration of medicines ensures an appropriate legal framework for service provision.

This article forms part of a series
  1. Introduction to PGDs
    1. When PGDs can be used
    2. When not to use a PGD
    3. P and GSL medicines with PGDs
Contents
  1. Using a PGD
    1. Scenarios when a PGD can be used
  2. Special considerations
    1. Antimicrobials
    2. Black triangle medicines
    3. Off label use of licenced medicines
    4. End of life care
    5. Controlled drugs
  3. Update history

Using a PGD

PGDs must only be used where there is no other suitable mechanism for the administration or supply of the medicine within the legislation. Careful consideration should be given to opportunities within the care pathway to use a prescription or a Patient Specific Direction and also consider the use of relevant HMR 2012 Schedule 17 or 223  exemptions.

Patient Group Directions NICE Guideline MPG2 (2017) states that you should consider investing in the training of additional non-medical prescribers to enable the redesign of services if necessary.

Scenarios when a PGD can be used

Examples include:

  • vaccinations
  • minor injury units and other, non-prescriber led, first contact services
  • services where assessment and treatment follows a clearly predictable pattern (NHS immunisation clinics and contraception and sexual health services, for example)

Special considerations

Specific guidance is provided on including the following medicines in a PGD.

Antimicrobials

Information is provided in NICE Guideline MPG2 (2017), recommendation 1.1.10.

Video explainer

This PGD explainer discusses the appropriate use of PGDs for the supply and/or administration of antimicrobials.

Black triangle medicines

Guidance is provided in NICE Guideline MPG2 (2017), recommendation 1.1.8.

Video explainer

This short video discusses the appropriate use of PGDs for the supply and/or administration of medicines with black triangle status.

Off label use of licenced medicines

Information can be found in:

Video explainer

This video outlines the appropriate inclusion of off label medicine use within PGDs.

End of life care

Information can be found in the SPS resource Patient Group Direction use in End of Life Care.

Video explainer

This PGD explainer discusses why the use of PGDs for the supply and/or administration of medicines in end of life care is often not appropriate.

Controlled drugs

Not all controlled drugs can be supplied or administered under a PGD. Further information can be found in Supply and/or administration of Controlled Drugs under a PGD.

Video explainer

This PGD explainer discusses the appropriate use of PGDs for the supply and/or administration of controlled drugs.

Update history

  1. Links to relevant exemptions added
  1. Reformatting, video explainers added and further information section removed
  1. Published

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