Patient Group Directions are already used safely by nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals. We want the Government to extend this framework to trained and statutory regulated clinical scientists and biomedical scientists, with suitable governance, training and competency frameworks.

The Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) has already considered this issue. In 2023 it supported PGD use by clinical and biomedical scientists for diagnostic PGD's with appropriate training and oversight. Expanding this to therapeutic PGD's, could provide timely access to treatment, reduce delays and referrals, remove repeat visits, ease workforce pressures and improve patient outcomes. We therefore urge the Government to build on CHM’s findings and update the legal framework.