The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 provides a range of exemptions to the restrictions on the sale, supply and administration of medicines.
A number of these exemptions are collectively described as patient specific directions (PSDs).
Legislation does not specifically define a PSD. However, it is generally accepted to mean a written instruction from a doctor, dentist or non-medical prescriber for a medicine to be supplied or administered to a named patient after the prescriber has assessed that patient on an individual basis.