There has been considerable confusion about the impact on Nuclear Medicine practice following publication of HSC2000/026 Patient Group directions (England only) and the subsequent consultation document MLX 278 'Sale, Supply and Administration of Medicines by Health Professionals under Patient Group Directions'.  Specifically, the role of clinical scientists and MTO's as persons who administer drugs ( radiopharmaceuticals and/or non-radioactive prescription only medicines) as part of a protocol has been brought into question.

The UK Radiopharmacy Group (UKRG) has been active in trying to clarify the position and is now pleased to be able to report that new regulations have been introduced in the UK which explicity make it legal for an IR(ME)R operator to administer radiopharmaceuticals that have been authorised under protocol by the ARSAC certificate holder and also to administer associated non-active pharmaceuticals (such as frusemide) using IR(ME)R protocols, without the need to utilise Patient Group Directions.