NHS Community Pharmacy Website

Patient Group Directions (PGDs)

CHANGE OF PROCESS IN SUBMISSION OF PGD AUTHORISATION SHEETS

As you will be aware, the Community Pharmacy Development Team (CPDT) has for many years required Community Pharmacists to submit a copy of their signed authorisation sheet for each PGD in existence in GGC. As part of this process the Team generates an acknowledgement to the Pharmacist so that they have a record of submission.

Pharmacists are covered under the PGD as soon as they accept the professional obligations by signing the authorisation sheet. There is no regulatory or legal requirement for copies of the signed sheets to be submitted to the Board. The only requirement is that the Board (in the form of the CPDT) should keep a list of the Pharmacists that have signed each PGD.

A proposal put forward to redesign the process moving towards a more automated approach, was supported by both the Area Pharmaceutical Committee and CP GGC. Therefore:

With effect from 1st April 2024, Pharmacists have no need to submit their various signed PGDs to the CPDT.

The electronic form should be completed indicating which PGDs they have signed. If an email address is provided, an automated message will be generated providing the same acknowledgement of signing. Using this method will also allow the Board to fulfil its obligations to keep a list of Pharmacists operating under the PGD and will be less onerous for the individual Pharmacist.

We understand that this change is a significant departure from a long established process and may take some time for the Community Pharmacy network to become used to. You should note that if you submit a physical PGD authorisation sheet to CPDT after 1st April 2024, this/these will be returned to you with a request to log your acceptance of the professional responsibility for each PGD via the new process.

Please note: This change in process will not affect payment for any services provided as part of the various PGDs.

Thank you for your co-operation.