The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7270 p485
11 October 2003

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Templates issued for 18 PGDs for use in emergency care of patients

Pharmacists will be able to administer a range of medicines, including adrenaline, emergency hormonal contraception and glucagon, under patient group directions (PGDs) for emergency care issued by the Department of Health this week.

The DoH has issued 18 national template PGDs that trusts can adopt and adapt. The PGDs could be used in any emergency or first contact care setting. This could include general practice, out-of-hours services, accident and emergency or minor injury departments and walk-in centres, or other settings. The DoH says that it is up to local trusts to decide where it is appropriate to use them.

The templates have been placed in the National Electronic Library for Health.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society welcomed the templates, with its President, Dr Gill Hawksworth, saying that they “will offer speedier care to patients as well as more choice over who treats them and where they are treated”.