Posted on: 4th November, 2026
Support the petition to extend Patient Group Directions to clinical and biomedical scientists
The Academy for Healthcare Science is encouraging healthcare science professionals and colleagues across the wider healthcare community to consider supporting a UK Parliament petition calling for clinical scientists and biomedical scientists to be able to use Patient Group Directions (PGDs).
The petition was created by AHCS President Professor Chris Hopkins and calls on the Government to extend the existing PGD framework to trained and statutorily regulated clinical scientists and biomedical scientists, supported by appropriate governance, training and competency frameworks.
PGDs already enable a number of registered healthcare professionals, including nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals, to supply or administer medicines in defined circumstances. The petition highlights that the Commission on Human Medicines supported the use of diagnostic PGDs by clinical and biomedical scientists in 2023, subject to appropriate training and oversight.
Extending the framework to therapeutic PGDs could help provide more timely access to treatment, reduce delays and unnecessary referrals, limit repeat visits and support pressure on the healthcare workforce.
Sign the petition
The petition is open until 15 January 2027. If it reaches 10,000 signatures, the Government will respond; at 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
