Patient Specific Directions (PSDs)
Safe, compliant, and accountable clinical care through personalised prescribing oversight.
Understanding Patient Specific Directions (PSDs)
Everything you need to know about PSDs and how they support clinical excellence
What is a PSD?
A Patient Specific Direction (PSD) is a written instruction from an authorised prescriber, such as a doctor or independent prescriber, that allows a named healthcare professional to supply and/or administer a medicine to a specific named patient.
The patient must be individually assessed by the prescriber, who retains full clinical responsibility for the prescribing decision. A PSD can be issued electronically or in written format and forms part of the patient's clinical record, ensuring personalised and accountable clinical care.
How Can PSDs Be Used?
PSDs are used when treatment needs to be tailored to the individual patient or when a PGD is not clinically appropriate or legally permitted.
Commonly used in:
- Individual medical consultations
- Specialist or complex treatments
- Personalised dosing or treatment pathways
- Situations requiring prescriber oversight
- Services where medicines cannot be supplied under a PGD
Benefits of Using PSDs
Deliver personalised patient care based on individual clinical assessment
Maintain full prescriber accountability and oversight
Ensure PSDs are delivered only by suitably trained and accredited staff
Support complex or higher-risk treatments safely
Ensure legal and regulatory compliance
Increase the range of services available to patients
PSDs and Service Delivery
PSDs support delivery of treatments requiring individual prescribing and clinical oversight, including specialist services and personalised treatment pathways.
They complement PGDs by enabling flexibility where group-based protocols are not suitable. PSDs enable organisations to safely expand services while maintaining strong clinical governance.
Why Choose Harley Street Medical for PSD Services?
Harley Street Medical provides a clinically governed framework to support PSD-based services, ensuring safe prescribing, documentation, and regulatory compliance.
Clinically Led Prescribing Oversight
Prescriptions issued by experienced GMC-registered doctors and qualified prescribers.
Robust Governance and Compliance
Aligned with CQC standards and national clinical guidance.
Accredited Workforce Standards
All PSD services are delivered only by suitably trained professionals accredited by PGDs Direct.
Simple Summary
A PSD authorises treatment for one named patient following individual assessment by a prescriber and must be delivered by suitably trained and PGDs Direct–accredited staff, ensuring safe, compliant, and accountable care.
PSD Service Enquiry
This service is for healthcare organisations only.