The College of Occupational Therapists has released a new guide to help its nearly 32,000 members understand patient group directions, a legal mechanism which when in place will allow them to supply and administer medicines to patients and service users.
Occupational therapists provide life-changing support to people managing illness, injuries and a wide range of physical and mental health conditions across both health and social care settings. Uniquely, they work to enable people to carry out daily activities ('occupations') which are essential for health and happiness.
A patient group direction (PGD) allows certain registered professionals like occupational therapists to supply and/or administer specified medicines in specific circumstances to a specific group of patients within the parameters of the document. It is created locally by doctors, pharmacists and the professionals who will be permitted to supply and/or administer the medication.
The College of Occupational Therapists is keen to provide guidance and information about PGDs for its members. PGDs do have their limitations but when used appropriately, may improve patient experience, clinical effectiveness, reduce costs and provide more fulfilling roles for occupational therapists. Once a PGD is in place, occupational therapists can treat the patient immediately without them having to wait to see a GP or district nurse. This not only speeds up care for the patient, it means other staff can be released to visit patients who are most in need of nursing or GP care.
As part of NHS England’s wider medicines optimisation agenda and with increased diversity in occupational therapy practice, more occupational therapists are becoming involved in medicines optimisation. As such it is important that occupational therapists understand their responsibilities. This Guide is a key part of this.
Support for the development of this guidance was provided by the NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service. Angela Bussey NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service PGD Lead welcomed publication of the guide, she said: "I am delighted to have worked with the College of Occupational Therapists on this guidance. Its advice and signposting to key resources will undoubtedly be very useful for occupational therapists when considering ways to deliver better care for their patients and expand their clinical practice."
Karin Bishop, Assistant Director - Professional Practice said: “Increasing the ability of occupational therapists to administer medicines has the potential to improve patient experience, clinical effectiveness, reduce costs and provide more fulfilling roles for occupational therapists. It is in the interests of patients and our members to raise knowledge and awareness of this legal mechanism as an option to supply and administer medicines."