Patient Specific Directions (PSDs) in Aesthetics: A UK Practitioner Guide

Your patient’s botulinum toxin has arrived.

Then they cancel.

Can you use it for tomorrow’s patient? A Patient Specific Direction is exactly what its name suggests: Patient. Specific.

For related practitioner guidance, see who can prescribe botulinum toxin in the UK and common aesthetic prescription errors.

What Is a Patient Specific Direction (PSD)?

A Patient Specific Direction — usually shortened to PSD — is the traditional term for a written instruction from a prescriber for a medicine to be supplied and/or administered to a named individual after the prescriber has assessed that person individually.

The principle is straightforward: PATIENT IDENTIFIED → PATIENT ASSESSED → PRESCRIBER DECIDES → PSD / PRESCRIPTION → MEDICINE SUPPLIED → MEDICINE ADMINISTERED → ADMINISTRATION RECORDED

Why Are PSDs Important for Botulinum Toxin?

Botulinum toxin is a Prescription Only Medicine (POM). Practitioners sourcing these medicines can browse the Toxins & Diluents hub, subject to the applicable professional-access, prescription and pharmacy requirements.

Patient-specific supply and clinic stock

Medicine dispensed or supplied to a named individual should only be administered to that named individual. A patient cancellation does not automatically transform patient-specific medicine into unrestricted clinic stock. If you are unsure about the supply route, speak to the supplying pharmacy before using the medicine.

PSD vs PGD

A PSD is patient-specific. A Patient Group Direction is a separate legal mechanism applying to specified medicines and eligible registered healthcare professionals under defined criteria. They should not be treated as interchangeable.

Professional ordering through Longeva Pharma

Eligible practitioners can register for a Longeva Pharma practitioner account. Practitioners using marketplace ordering can also browse selected products in our Faces collection; marketplace ordering does not alter patient-specific prescribing or pharmacy requirements.

Greater Manchester clinics can review our same-day delivery and pre-arranged Rochdale collection information, subject to stock, pharmacy requirements and confirmation.

The Bottom Line

A PSD represents an individual prescribing decision for an identified patient. The patient should be assessed, the prescriber should make the clinical decision, the medicine should follow the appropriate supply route, and administration should be recorded and traceable.

Patient-specific medicine is patient-specific.

Shop professional aesthetic products

Use the clinical guidance above to inform product selection, then shop the professional range at Longeva Pharma →