Patient Clinical Pathways (PCPs)
The prescriber-led framework for delivering GLP-1 weight management services safely, compliantly, and effectively.
Weight Management Service
Patient Clinical Pathway (PCP)
Our Patient Clinical Pathway is the appropriate model for delivering GLP-1 weight management services. It ensures that treatments requiring prescribing expertise are delivered within a structured, compliant framework that supports safe and effective patient care.
What the PCP Provides to Healthcare Providers
- Patient screening questionnaire
- Clinical assessment template for prescribers
- Contraindication and red-flag checklist
- Baseline observations and blood test guidance
- Prescriber consultation template
- Patient consent documentation
- Monitoring and follow-up schedule
- Side-effect management and escalation protocol
- Service Standard Operating Procedure for governance
Together, these documents create a ready-to-implement framework that supports safe prescribing and robust clinical governance.
Why a Patient Clinical Pathway (PCP) Is the Correct Regulatory Model
A PCP supports a prescriber-led pathway of care, aligning with regulatory expectations for treatments that require clinical judgement and ongoing review.
The prescriber remains central to the patient journey, responsible for assessment, prescribing decisions, dose adjustments, and monitoring. Other clinical staff support the pathway but do not replace prescribing responsibility. This approach reflects best practice and provides clear governance that can be demonstrated during regulatory inspection.
Why a PGD Cannot Be Used for GLP-1 Weight Management Services
PGDs are intended for clearly defined, low-risk situations where patient assessment is straightforward and medicine supply can occur under strict, predetermined criteria without the need for complex clinical judgement.
- Individual clinical assessment of each patient
- Screening for contraindications, co-morbidities, and safeguarding concerns
- Evaluation of mental health and eating disorder risk
- Baseline observations and blood tests
- Ongoing dose titration based on clinical response
- Continuous monitoring for side effects and complications
- Regular clinical review and prescriber oversight
These requirements mean the service must be delivered through a prescriber-led model rather than a direction-based supply model.
Built for compliant weight management services
The PCP framework helps you demonstrate strong governance, clear clinical oversight, and safe escalation pathways for GLP-1 treatments.
It is designed for clinics and pharmacies that want to offer effective weight management services while meeting regulatory expectations.
Professional Guidance on Weight Loss — GLP-1 Medicines & PGDs
NICE Position on PGDs and GLP-1 Medicines
According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), GLP-1 receptor agonists should not be supplied under PGDs.
This is set out in NICE guideline NG197 (Patient Group Directions).
Recent Urgent Alert Issued by MHRA
February 2026 — MHRA Alert on GLP-1 Medications — Yellow Card Scheme
GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists: strengthened warnings on acute pancreatitis, including necrotising and fatal cases.
Why GLP-1 Medicines Are Not Appropriate for PGDs
NICE is very clear that PGDs must not be used where medicines require:
Individualised Clinical Decision-Making
GLP-1 medicines (e.g. semaglutide, liraglutide, tirzepatide) require:
- Dose titration
- Ongoing review
- Adjustment based on tolerance and side effects
Ongoing Monitoring
They need monitoring for:
- GI side effects
- Hypoglycaemia risk (especially with other medications)
- Pancreatitis / gallbladder issues
- Renal function (in some cases)
Long-Term Management
NICE states PGDs are not suitable for chronic conditions or medicines requiring long-term follow-up — which GLP-1s absolutely do.
Patient Care Pathways (PCPs) — The Appropriate Route
It is appropriate to use Patient Care Pathways (PCPs) to prescribe and supply patients GLP-1 medicines.
PGDs Direct collaborate and work in partnership with Harley Street Medical to enable pharmacies to supply GLP-1 medications in a safe manner. This ensures the best interests of the patient are taken into account with the best outcomes, and the supplying pharmacist is not in any breach of good practice and governance.
Advice Note to Pharmacists — Supply of GLP-1 Medicines
In light of NICE guideline NG197 and recent MHRA safety alerts, GLP-1 receptor agonists require careful individualised prescribing, appropriate screening, dose titration, and ongoing monitoring, and are therefore not suitable for supply under Patient Group Directions (PGDs).
Continued supply of GLP-1 medicines via PGDs may constitute unsafe and inappropriate practice, expose pharmacists to fitness to practise and regulatory action by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), and potentially represent a breach of medicines legislation.
Furthermore, where practice deviates from national guidance and known safety alerts, professional indemnity insurance cover may not be valid, leaving pharmacists personally exposed to civil liability in the event of patient harm.
Pharmacists are therefore advised to ensure GLP-1 medicines are supplied only via appropriate legal routes, such as PCPs.
Speak to our specialist team
For timelines, pricing, and implementation support, contact us directly.
Email: info@pgdsdirect.co.uk