Supply and administration of medicines by staff group (H to O)

Published 2 April 2024Last updated 22 April 2024See all updates

Topics: AdministeringService advice and planningSupply

Different staff groups have different permissions with respect to medicines supply and administration and it is important to ensure legislation is followed.

How to use this page

Staff groups are listed in alphabetical order and include information on what they can and cannot legally do, with respect to medicines supply and administration.

Essential reading

This page should be read in conjunction with Legal mechanisms to supply and administer medicines to individuals and Medicine administration by registered and non-registered staff.

Mechanisms by professional group

Hearing aid dispenser

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What they can do

Hearing aid dispensers registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) can:

work under a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) written by a prescriber
work under stages 2-4 of the work under the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines and national protocol for inactivated influenza vaccine (stages 2-4)
work under Schedule 19 exemptions
work under a protocol to administer P or GSL medicine
work under a protocol to supply a GSL medicine

What they cannot do

This group cannot:

write a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) or prescription
work under a Patient Group Direction (PGD)
work under any Schedule 17 exemptions

Hearing aid dispensers generally work in private practice and are rarely employed by NHS organisations.

Midwife

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What they can do

Midwives registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) can:

work under a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) written by a prescriber
write a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) or prescription only if annotated as an independent prescriber or as a supplementary prescriber working under a clinical management plan
work under a Patient Group Direction (PGD)
work under the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines and national protocol for inactivated influenza vaccine (all stages)
work under Schedule 19 exemptions
work under relevant Schedule 17 exemptions* (midwives and occupational health vaccinators)
work under Human Medicines Regulations 2012 Regulation 223 to administer or supply P and GSL medicines (see also Legal provision of GSL and P medicines by registered midwives)

*Student midwives can only work under relevant Schedule 17 exemptions under the direct supervision of a registered midwife. See also non-registered health professionals.

What they cannot do

This group cannot:

act as clinical supervisor for the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines under Regulation 3A

Non-registered health professionals

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What they can do

The mechanisms below relate to non-registered health professionals. Examples include students, support staff, ambulance technicians.

This group can:

work under a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) written by a prescriber
work under Schedule 19 exemptions
work under the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines and national protocol for inactivated influenza vaccine (stages 2-4)
work under a protocol to administer P or GSL medicine
work under a protocol to supply a GSL medicine

This group cannot:

write a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) or prescription
work under a Patient Group Direction (PGD)
act as clinical supervisor for the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines under Regulation 3A
work under any Schedule 17 exemptions

Nurse

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What they can do

Nurses registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) group can:

work under a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) written by a prescriber
write a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) or prescription (only if annotated as an independent prescriber, a supplementary prescriber working under a clinical management plan or a community practitioner nurse prescriber)
work under a Patient Group Direction (PGD)
work under the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines and national protocol for inactivated influenza vaccine (all stages)
act as clinical supervisor for the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines under Regulation 3A
work under Schedule 19 exemptions
work under relevant Schedule 17 exemptions (occupational health and occupational health vaccinator)
work under a protocol to administer P or GSL medicine
work under a protocol to supply a GSL medicine

Nursing associate

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What they can do

Nursing associates registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) can:

work under a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) written by a prescriber
work under the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines and national protocol for inactivated influenza vaccine (all stages)
work under Schedule 19 exemptions
work under relevant Schedule 17 exemptions (occupational health vaccinator)
work under a protocol to administer P or GSL medicine
work under a protocol to supply a GSL medicine

What they cannot do

This group cannot:

write a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) or prescription
work under a Patient Group Direction (PGD)
act as clinical supervisor for the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines under Regulation 3A

Occupational therapist

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What they can do

Occupational therapists currently registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) can:

work under a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) written by a prescriber
work under the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines and national protocol for inactivated influenza vaccine (all stages)
work under a Patient Group Direction (PGD)
work under Schedule 19 exemptions
work under a protocol to administer P or GSL medicine
work under a protocol to supply a GSL medicine

What they cannot do

This group cannot:

write a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) or prescription
act as clinical supervisor for the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines under Regulation 3A
work under any Schedule 17 exemptions

Operating department practitioner

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What they can do

Operating department practitioners registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) can:

work under a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) written by a prescriber
work under the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines and national protocol for inactivated influenza vaccine (all stages)
work under Schedule 19 exemptions
work under relevant Schedule 17 exemptions (occupational health vaccinator)
work under a protocol to administer P or GSL medicine
work under a protocol to supply a GSL medicine

What they cannot do

This group cannot:

write a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) or prescription
work under the Patient Group Direction (PGD)
act as clinical supervisor for the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines under Regulation 3A

Optometrist

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What they can do

Optometrists registered with the General Optical Council (GOC) can:

work under a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) written by a prescriber
write a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) or prescription only if annotated as an independent prescriber or as a supplementary prescriber working under a clinical management plan
work under a Patient Group Direction (PGD)
work under the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines and national protocol for inactivated influenza vaccine (all stages)
work under Schedule 19 exemptions
work under relevant Schedule 17 exemptions (optometrists)
work under a protocol to administer P or GSL medicine
work under a protocol to supply a GSL medicine

What they cannot do

This group cannot:

act as clinical supervisor for the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines under Regulation 3A
work under Schedule 17 exemptions (occupational health vaccinators)

Orthoptist

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What they can do

Orthoptists registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) can:

work under a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) written by a prescriber
work under a Patient Group Direction (PGD)
work under the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines and national protocol for inactivated influenza vaccine (all stages)
work under Schedule 19 exemptions
work under Schedule 17 exemptions (orthoptist)
work under a protocol to administer P or GSL medicine
work under a protocol to supply a GSL medicine

What they cannot do

This group cannot:

write a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) or prescription
act as clinical supervisor for the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines under Regulation 3A
work under Schedule 17 exemptions (occupational health vaccinators)

Orthotist and prosthetist

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What they can do

Orthotists and prosthetists registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) can:

work under a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) written by a prescriber
work under a Patient Group Direction (PGD)
work under the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines and national protocol for inactivated influenza vaccine (all stages)
work under Schedule 19 exemptions
work under a protocol to administer P or GSL medicine
work under a protocol to supply a GSL medicine

What they cannot do

These groups cannot:

write a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) or prescription
act as clinical supervisor for the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines under Regulation 3A
work under any Schedule 17 exemptions

Osteopath

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What they can do

Osteopaths registered with the General Osteopath Council (GOsC) can:

work under a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) written by a prescriber
work under the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines and national protocol for inactivated influenza vaccine (stages 2-4)
work under Schedule 19 exemptions
work under a protocol to administer P or GSL medicine
work under a protocol to supply a GSL medicine

What they cannot do

This group cannot:

write a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) or prescription
work under a Patient Group Direction (PGD)
act as clinical supervisor for the national protocols for coronavirus vaccines under Regulation 3A
work under any Schedule 17 exemptions

Update history

14 May 2024

Community practitioner nurse prescriber added.

22 April 2024

Article series format review

16 April 2024

Midwife section updated to include Human Medicine Regulation 2012: Regulation 223

2 April 2024

Published

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SPS - Specialist Pharmacy Service

NHS

Supply and administration of medicines by staff group (H to O)

This article forms part of a series

Contents

How to use this page

Essential reading

Mechanisms by professional group

Hearing aid dispenser

What they can do

What they cannot do

Midwife

What they can do

What they cannot do

Non-registered health professionals

What they can do

Nurse

What they can do

Nursing associate

What they can do

What they cannot do

Occupational therapist

What they can do

What they cannot do

Operating department practitioner

What they can do

What they cannot do

Optometrist

What they can do

What they cannot do

Orthoptist

What they can do

What they cannot do

Orthotist and prosthetist

What they can do

What they cannot do

Osteopath

What they can do

What they cannot do

Update history

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