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Authorising and preparing to use a PGD

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Topics: Patient Group Direction PlanningPatient Group DirectionsSummary advice

Once a PGD is written, there are steps to be completed before the PGD is used within an organisation.

This article forms part of a series
  1. How to develop a Patient Group Direction
    1. Planning for a PGD
    2. Writing a PGD
    3. Authorising and preparing to use a PGD
    4. Monitoring and reviewing a PGD in practice
Contents
  1. The authorisation process
    1. Organisational authorisation
    2. Responsibilities when authorising or signing a PGD
    3. Management of PGDs in use
  2. Preparing to use a PGD
    1. Communication
    2. Document management
    3. Practitioner authorisation
    4. Training

The authorisation process

Consider the local processes which are relevant to the service and the organisation for the authorisation of PGDs. Local arrangements vary.

Organisational authorisation

Different authorising organisations may have different processes and policies for PGDs. Ensure:

If you are an independent healthcare provider commissioned to provide NHS or public health services, check which organisation is responsible for the organisational authorisation of your PGDs before development begins.

Responsibilities when authorising or signing a PGD

Confirm the signatories know why they are signing and understand their roles and responsibilities.

Management of PGDs in use

Plan ahead and confirm who will ensure management of document and version control of approved PGDs and practitioner authorisation records. This is likely to involve more than one post holder.

Preparing to use a PGD

Communication

Identify who will be responsible for communicating to:

  • the service or provider that the PGD has been authorised and is available for implementation
  • individual practitioners that the PGD has been authorised (including plans for the individual practitioners to undertake any relevant training and obtain authorisation to work under the PGD)

Plan how these elements of communication will happen and when.

Document management

Identify the following people who will be responsible for:

  • the management of authorised PGD documents within the organisation as a whole and at service level (these may not be the responsibility of the same person, department or organisation, and there should be close liaison to ensure good governance)
  • keeping a list of authorised PGDs that are in use in the organisation with dates for review/expiry (Care Quality Commission (CQC) will expect to see this during inspections)
  • keeping a list of authorised PGDs which are in use in a particular service
  • organising removal of any old versions of PGDs from clinic areas and intranets so that only the most recent version can be accessed
  • training and competency assessment of individual practitioners, with logging of completion

Practitioner authorisation

A senior person should be responsible for ensuring that only fully competent, qualified and trained health professionals are authorised to use the most recently approved version of the PGD.

Authorised health professionals working under PGDs should understand their legal and professional responsibilities before they use PGDs.

Training

Ensure the relevant training is completed so that practitioners can be assessed for competency to use the PGDs. This can be provided locally or via national resources.

Remember that a registered health professional who is undergoing competency training should not be authorised to use PGDs, where this competency is a requirement for PGD use. See Use of PGDs by trainee registered healthcare professionals.

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