From Mr P. G. W. Jones, MRPharmS
SIR,-You will be aware that a website to publish approved patient group directions (PGDs) was set up on the internet at www.groupprotocols.org.uk by myself, the North West region and Salford Royal Hospitals NHS trust. The site has been extremely successful with approximately 1,000 visits each month. Recent discussions with colleagues have suggested that there is uncertainty among pharmacists as to whether the website is to continue to be maintained since I transferred from Salford Royal to a local primary care group. I am pleased to inform pharmacists that funding has been acquired to maintain the website for the foreseeable future. Further development of the website will include the display of "model" PGDs as referred to in the recent Health Circular 2000/026 by agreement with the NHS Executive at Leeds. A section on frequently asked questions and answers will be included on the website. To achieve this development a small multidisciplinary group will be convened to produce the models in consultation with organisations such as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists, both of which are working to produce guidance for their members. Discussions for contributions from the medical and nursing professions are also under way. If pharmacists would like to have their own local PGDs displayed on the website, or consider that they have an unusual PGD which could be used as a model, they are asked to contact me via www.groupprotocols.org. uk or by e-mail at peter.jones @ph.sat-ha.nwest.nhs.uk
Peter G. W. Jones
Prescribing Adviser, Salford West PCG Floor 5B, Peel House Albert Street, Eccles,
Manchester M30 0NJ