PGDs and PSDs
Resources on Patient Group Directions (PGDs) and Patient Specific Directions (PSDs)
All vaccines are classified as prescription only medicines; and health professionals who are not independent prescribers will need a legal mechanism for authorising the administration of yellow fever vaccine to travellers. Commonly, patient group directions (PGD) or patient specific directions (PSD) are used to supply/administer prescription only medicines.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) provide helpful information and practical guidance on PGDs and PSDs; and Practice Nursing have published Best practice for medicines management and vaccination, which provides detail about medicines legislation and vaccination.
For further information and practical guidance on the use of PGDs and PSDs please explore the resources below:
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA): Patient group directions: who can use them
- UK Health Security Agency: Immunisation by nurses and other health professionals: the green book
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE): Patient group directions
- British Medical Association: Patient group and patient specific directions
First published : 14 June 2016
Last updated : 27 April 2023