Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.

Regulations 3, 5, 7 and 8 are required to enable contractors carrying out search and rescue operations on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to supply prescription only medicines under a patient group direction.

Regulations 3, 4, 7 and 8 are required to enable Public Health England and the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being in Northern Ireland to supply prescription only medicines under a patient group direction.

Regulation 6 amends the 2012 Regulations so that the new provisions relating to search and rescue operators, patient group directions and exemption from rules governing supply of medicines by national health service bodies are subject to review by the Secretary of State.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on private, public or voluntary sectors is foreseen.