Optometrists may supply or administer drugs to patients under a Patient Group Direction (PGD). PGDs are written instructions for the supply or administration of medicines to groups of patients who may not be individually identified before presentation for treatment.¹⁷²  You must ensure you meet the criteria in the PGD. You should work to local protocols. 

You may be involved in community services or be co-managing patients, such as those who have had surgical procedures, and need to supply or administer an ocular medication that is not on the list of drugs you can use or supply under the exemptions in paragraphs A475 and A476. You may do this under the authority of a PGD, see above paragraph.