What is a PGD?

In the UK's National Health Service (NHS), there's a special system called Patient Group Directions (PGDs). Think of PGDs as special guidelines that let certain healthcare workers give specific medicines to certain groups of patients without needing a separate prescription for each person.

Here's how it works:

PGDs are like a set of instructions. They tell healthcare workers which medicines they can give and to which patients. These guidelines are not like regular prescriptions. Instead, they allow trained healthcare workers to give medicine directly to a patient who needs it, without waiting for a doctor's note. PGDs are used when they can help patients get the care they need more efficiently and safely. These guidelines are made by a team of experts, including doctors, pharmacists, and other professionals. When a healthcare worker uses a PGD, they have to make sure the patient meets the right conditions. And only that worker can give the medicine – they can't pass the job to someone else. There's an organization called the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (or NICE for short). They give advice on when to use PGDs. They believe most care should be tailored to each person. But in some cases, using PGDs can be better for the patient and make things run smoother. In short, PGDs are an important tool in healthcare. They help some healthcare workers give specific medicines to certain groups of patients, making care quicker and more efficient in some situations.

To view all of our PGDs, check our online clinic.