Medicines Management Policy - Dudley Primary Care Trust

prescribers, but only where there is a patient need and the doctor has agreed in
a patient’s CMP.
More detailed information on supplementary prescribing can be found on the
Department’s web site: www.dh.gov.uk/supplementaryprescribing.
2.5 Patient Group Directions
A Patient Group Direction (PGD) is defined as a written instruction for the
supply or administration of medicines to a group of patients who may not be
individually identified before presentation for treatment. It is not a form of
prescribing.
Further guidance on the use of PGDs can be found in the Trust Policy
document ‘Patient Group Directions General Policy for the Supply and
Administration of Medicinal Products by Approved Practitioners (Non- Medical)’.
2.6 Clinical Awareness and Competence of person writing prescription
2.6.1 The healthcare professional must be aware of, and able to demonstrate
knowledge of, the action of the prescribed item, the usual dosage, the common
side effects, interactions, local prescribing guidelines, current evidence and how
these relate to the treatment of the individual patient/client overall. They should
be familiar with sources of information about medication such as the BNF.
Whenever possible, prescribers should have access to the patient’s current
medical record.
2.6.2 As part of their continuing professional development standard as laid down by
their professional body. The healthcare professional must make every
reasonable effort to maintain and develop knowledge of the common
medications used in his/her area of practice. This knowledge should include
awareness of;
a) The signs of adverse drug reactions (ADR) to medication and the actions
to be taken should this occur.
b) Reactions that may occur when different medicines are combined.
c) Contra-indications
2.7 Writing Prescriptions
Prescriptions written by doctors or other authorised prescribers employed by
Dudley Primary Care Trust must conform to the following guidelines.
10