Dental hygienists and dental therapists who are appropriately trained and supported will be able to supply and administer some medicines with no Patient Specific Direction (PSD) from a dentist, or Patient Group Direction (PGD). The new legislation applies to both NHS and private dental practices, and throughout the UK.
NHS England and Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) are developing training courses, and the latter has developed a training package to support colleagues interested in delivering this care. NHS Education for Scotland has arranged for interested colleagues across Scotland to attend this training. Further details on the timescale and how to access the training will follow shortly from each of the four nations.
The decision as to whether to work to exemptions should be reached collaboratively within each individual practice and adequate indemnity must be in place first. In addition, dental hygienists and therapists who do wish to work to exemptions must have the competence to do so.
Please refer to the NHS guidance for detailed information on the medicines covered by the exemptions legislation, and relevant further information.
There is a recorded webinar available which outlines steps that contractors, dental hygienists and therapists could take to prepare to work to exemptions:
FutureNHS webinar: Supply and administration of medicines by dental hygienists and dental therapists
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