Developing a PGD Competency Framework and service improvement

Quality Improvement Poster Download

Background & Problem

Patient Group Directions (PGDs)are used within our Trust to allow certain groups of registered Health Care Professionals (HCP) to administer medications to an identified group of patients for a specified condition without a prescription on a once only basis e.g glucagon for an episode of severe hypoglycaemia.

M To administer under a PGD, each registered HCP must have completed a PGD competency, read through and signed each individual (drug) PGD to ensure that they have understood the implications for giving the drug and completed the appropriate documentation on the drug chart, patients nursing notes and/ or Drugs From Ward log. The PGD competency should be discussed at appraisal.

NICE guidance states an update of this competency, although does not suggest a time period for this. Current education consists of a self assessment test online and signs off of the competency. There is a variance in the recording of this in departments across our Trust.

Aim

Improve the PGD competency framework, ensuring competencies are being signed off and education is consistent across our Trust. For this project it will focus on one department.

Results

The impact of implementing training via the Lecture Practitioner was great (from 2 to 72 members of staff trained and competencies completed).

Implications

Training package has now been developed and is being piloted. The PGD webpage will be redesigned as part of a Service improvement project. Information to be disseminated via SNMC. PGD competency is now included as part of the induction programme for our Trust.