Patient Group Directions

Patient Group Directions (PGDs) are documents (in the English National Health Service) permitting the supply of prescription-only medicines (POMs) to groups of patients, without individual prescriptions.^[1][2] Healthcare workers using PGDs should be sufficiently trained to be able to supply and administer POMs.

PGDs have been used to make certain POMs available to the public, under certain circumstances. These drugs include Orlistat (as Xenical) for weight loss in cases of Obesity,^[3] Finasteride (as Propecia) for restoration of hair in Male-pattern baldness,^[3] Sildenafil (as Viagra) ^[4] for Erectile dysfunction, Norethisterone for period delay ^[5] Levonorgestrel and Ulipristal acetate ^[6] as Emergency Hormonal Contraception,^[7] The supply of Levonelle is different, however, in that it is not a POM, but can be used to provide the drug free of charge.

Pharmacy Travel Clinic PGDs

Recently, community pharmacists have been able to provide a full pharmacy travel clinic ^[8] under the authorisation of PGDs. This enables appropriately trained pharmacists to offer the same services that would be found in a private travel centre.

References

1. Patient group directions (PGDs).
2. Patient group directions: a resource pack for pharmacists (RPSGB).
3. Boots the Chemist Pharmacy Services.
4. Boots launches private PGD service to supply Viagra (PJ online).
5. Period Delay via PGD.
6. Emergency Hormonal Contraception via PGD.
7. Levonelle (Royal College of Nursing).
8. Pharmacist led travel clinic authorised by PGDs.