New legislation has been introduced to permit pharmacy technicians to supply and administer medicines under Patient Group Directions (PGDs).
Amendments to the Human Medicines Regulations were laid before Parliament at the end of May and are due to come into effect from 26th June 2024. The changes will permit registered pharmacy technicians to supply and administer medicines under a PGD in the course of their professional practice.
The introduction of this legislation follows an announcement made by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) earlier this year.
Whilst the regulatory changes provide the legal basis for pharmacy technicians to begin supplying and administering medicines under PGDs from the end of this month, it is important to note that there can be no immediate change in the provision of community pharmacy services. Any updates to services first need to be considered in negotiations and, where agreed, the relevant service directions and specifications would then be amended.
Gordon Hockey, Community Pharmacy England Director, Legal said:
“As the clinical skills of community pharmacists are put to greater use through services such as Pharmacy First, it is important to ensure that pharmacies can make best use of skill mix across the whole team.”
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