16th March 2023
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Patient Group Directions (PGDs)
PGDs provide a legal framework that allows some registered health professionals to supply and/or administer a specified medicine(s) to a pre-defined group of patients, without them having to see a doctor (or dentist). However, supplying and/or administering medicines under PGDs should be reserved for situations in which this offers an advantage for patient care, without compromising patient safety.
Legislation establishing PGDs was introduced in 2000 and the Health Service Circular (HSC 2000/026) provided additional guidance. The current legislation for PGDs is included in The Human Medicines Regulations 2012.
Important Note
The following Sexual Health PGDS are for use by Sexual Health nurses employed by York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust who have signed the PGDS to enable them to operate legally and safely within each one. These PGDS are currently under review and being updated
These documents are on the YorSexualHealth (YSH) website to enable those nurses to have a point of reference to the PGD when they are working in remote locations.
Other organisations and individuals are reminded that the YSH PGD Group is not a legal authority for the organisational authorisation of PGDs. Individual practitioners must be authorised to practice under the PGD by each organisation within which they work. This is a legal requirement. Clinical governance and audit surrounding PGD use are local responsibilities.
Therefore each organisation must ensure that each PGD is adopted via formal PGD processes and ensure that the PGD has the required legal organisational authorisation before implementation. This includes signatures by a relevant doctor, pharmacist, lead practitioner and clinical governance or patient safety lead on behalf of the authorising organisation, as set out in PGD legislation. The PGD is not legal or valid without this local, formal authorisation.
Contraceptive PGDs
Levonorgestrel emergency contraception
Ulipristal acetate emergency contraception
Progestogen only pill (POP)
Progestogen only injection (depo medroxyprogesterone acetate)
Sayana Press (with attached late guidance)
Lidocaine hydrochloride (for the insertion or removal of contraceptive implant)
Sexual Health PGDs
Azithromycin Neisseria gonorrhoea