PGDs and independent prescribing

Both routes of supply are particularly important in managing infective conjunctivitis because they allow community pharmacists to move beyond the limitations of OTC licensing and deliver timely, complete episodes of care within a pharmacy setting. Many antibacterial eye drops used for infective conjunctivitis are not licensed for OTC supply, despite being recommended in clinical guidance for specific patient groups or presentations.

PGDs provide a clear legal framework that enables pharmacists to supply prescription-only medicines safely and appropriately, supported by defined inclusion, exclusion and referral criteria.

In conjunctivitis management, PGDs help to balance rapid access to treatment with appropriate clinical safeguards. However, PGDs are commissioned locally. While national templates may exist, authorisation rests with local commissioning bodies. This explains the variation in service availability across the UK and highlights the importance of pharmacists being familiar with the services commissioned in their own area and the governance arrangements that support them.

Independent prescribing represents the next stage in the evolution of conjunctivitis management in pharmacy. Unlike PGDs, prescribing allows pharmacists to apply individual clinical judgement without reliance on predefined criteria, enabling a full clinical assessment, diagnosis, prescribing and follow-up within one consultation.

This flexibility is particularly valuable in conjunctivitis, where symptoms may overlap with allergic or viral causes, red flag features must be actively excluded and treatment decisions should be individualised.

Independent prescribing also supports stronger antimicrobial stewardship by allowing pharmacists to withhold antibiotics when they are not clinically indicated, select alternative treatments, or review and amend therapy if symptoms do not resolve. 

As prescribing becomes more embedded in community pharmacy, conjunctivitis is a natural ‘candidate condition’: it is common, usually low risk, and supported by well-established assessment frameworks.

Together, PGDs and independent prescribing enhance professional practice, improve patient access, reduce unnecessary GP referrals and reinforce the role of community pharmacy as a first-contact healthcare setting capable of delivering safe, effective and patient-centred care.