Pharmacy First: Final PGDs and protocol published

NHS England has published the final 23 Patient Group Directions (PGDs) and protocol for the Pharmacy First service, which is due to start on 31st January 2024.

Draft versions of the PGDs and protocols were published on the NHS Business Services Authority’s website on 1st December 2023, to help pharmacists and pharmacy owners to start to prepare to provide the service. However, pharmacists must read and sign-up to the final versions of the PGDs and protocol, rather than the draft versions, before providing the service.

The draft versions of the PGDs and protocol are not signed by NHS England and therefore do not provide organisational authorisation for pharmacists to authorise supply of medicines at NHS expense, where clinically appropriate, following a consultation for one of the seven conditions for the Pharmacy First service.

While the PGDs have been published, these have been published as PDFs. We are currently working with NHS England to ensure there is a Microsoft Word version of the authorisation sheet (which pharmacists and authorising managers need to sign) so that pharmacy details can be added to this. We will alert pharmacy owners through our normal communication channels when this is available.

Further information and FAQs on the service can be found on our Pharmacy First webpage.