Medicines and the law – patient group directions

Abstract

Midwives will be aware that as a general rule prescription only medicines should be supplied and administered in accordance with the directions of an appropriate practitioner set out in a valid prescription (Medicines Act 1968, section 58). This strict regime protects the public from the harmful effects of medicines but can result in a delay in treatment and the need to visit an appropriate practitioner before the medicine can be supplied or administered. To overcome this inflexible process, while still ensuring the safety of patients, the Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Order 1997 allows medicines that would normally require a prescription to be supplied and/or administered through the use of patient group directions (PGDs).