unit 1 - patient group direction Flashcards
What is a Patient Group Direction?
A written instruction for the sale, supply and/or administration of medicines to groups of patients who may not be individually identified before presentation for treatment
What does a Patient Group Direction allow?
Patient Group Directions allow healthcare professionals to supply and administer specified medicines to pre-defined groups of patients, without a prescription
What is the purpose of a Patient Group Direction?
Aims to ensure that patient group directions are used in line with legislation, so that patients have safe and speedy access to the medicines they need
Who can supply under a PGD?
Chiropodists and podiatrists Dental hygienists Dental therapists Dieticians Midwives Nurses Occupational therapists Optometrists Orthoptists Orthotists and prosthetics Paramedics Pharmacists Physiotherapists Radiographers Speech and language therapists
Why is a PGD needed?
To improve patient care but doesn’t compromise on safety
PGDs can improve access to medicine
Improved access to treatment
Maximise the skills of many healthcare practitioners
PGDs will often be developed in response to a pharmaceutical needs assessment.
The service is designed to improve delivery of care to an identified population e.g. the flu vaccination service aims to increase the percentage of the population vaccinated by making the vaccine more accessible to at-risk patients
How is a PGD produced?
Multidisciplinary team including:
Lead doctor/dentist
Pharmacist
Representative of any professional expected to use the PGD (e.g. a paramedic)
Who authorises a PGD?
The organisation who will be using it e.g. NHS or Primary Care team
What must a PGD have in order to be valid?
Signed by the Lead doctor/dentist and the Senior Pharmacist involved in writing the PGD
Signed by the organisation using it
How often are PGDs reviewed?
Normally every 2 years
Flu PGDs are reviewed every year
What does a PGD need to contain?
Name of the business to which the direction applies
Date when the direction comes into force and expires
What medicines the direction applies to
Class of Healthcare Professional it applies to
Signature of the Doctor (or dentist) and Pharmacist writing it
Signature by the Appropriate organisation
The Clinical Situation to which it applies
Description of patients included and excluded from treatment
Descriptions of situation that need to be referred or extra treatment sought
Details of appropriate dosage and max dosage of medication
Quantity, form, strength, route and frequency of administration
Relevant warnings and potential adverse reactions
Details of follow up actions
What record keeping is needed
What is the inclusion criteria for a PGD?
Specifies which group of patients can access the PGD
What is the exclusion criteria for a PGD?
This lists patietns who CANNOT access the PGD. If a patient is excluded, they may not be supplied with, or administered, the medication. They should be signposted to a more appropriate service. Some of these may be temporary exclusions (e.g. the patient has a temperature so they must wait until they are better) or it could be a permanent exclusion (e.g. past history of anaphalaxis to egg products (albumin))
Does a medicine involved in a PGD need to be labelled?
It depends if it is written in the PGD
Which medicines generally do NOT need to be labelled in a PGD?
Injectable or single dose medicines supplied for immediate administration
Which medicines do need to be labelled in a PGD?
Medicines taken away by the patient for administration later
A PIL should also be included and they should be asked to read it
