Guidance

Guidance

Patient Group Directions and legal mechanisms

All our resources on Patient Group Directions (PGDs) and other legal mechanisms for the supply or administration of medicines.

Developing insulin safety across a system

1 May 2025Strategies, signposting and initiatives to support safer use of insulin.

Managing PGDs following organisational change

30 April 2025Advice on the management of PGDs when organisations merge, cease to exist or services are transferred to a new provider to ensure safe care and good governance

Retaining legal mechanism documentation

30 April 2025Advice on the retention of all records relating to legal mechanisms, such as PSDs, PGDs, Written Instructions and National Protocols

Choosing an antidepressant for people with coronary heart disease

29 April 2025Sertraline is the first-line option in people with coronary heart disease. Alternatives include fluoxetine, paroxetine and mirtazapine.

Intravenous hyoscine butylbromide

24 April 2025SPS PGD template for administering intravenous hyoscine butylbromide for imaging investigations by registered Radiographers.

Worksheet design and aseptic processing control

23 April 2025A bite size learning event on worksheet design and processing control in pharmacy aseptic services. 23 May 2025.

Using contrast agents during breastfeeding

11 April 2025Breastfeeding need not be withheld after commonly used amidotrizoate, barium, gadolinium or iodinated contrast agents. Applies to full term and healthy infants.

Using potassium permanganate for skin conditions or wound care

4 April 2025Potassium permanganate is a chemical product. We review the evidence for using it in wound care and highlight the risk of severe harm associated with wrong use.

Pain: treatment during pregnancy

3 April 2025A summary of pharmacological options commonly used to treat pain in primary care.

SPS - Specialist Pharmacy Service

NHS