Prescribing Rights — ORE Part 1 MCQ

Correct answer: D — They cannot prescribe medicines independently; they can only supply and administer medications named in an authorised PGD

Explanation lettering: B = shown as A · E = shown as B · A = shown as D · D = shown as E

Dental hygienists and dental therapists cannot prescribe medicines independently under exemptions or PGDs. Supply and administration of medicines under a PGD is legally distinct from prescribing. A PGD provides a framework allowing registered health professions to supply and/or administer specific named medicines without requiring an individual prescription or instruction from a prescriber. The key discriminator is that they operate **within** a PGD (supplying and administering named medicines pre-determined by a prescriber), not **as** prescribers making independent medicine-choice decisions. **Options B, C, D, and E** incorrectly attribute independent prescribing authority, which dental hygienists and therapists do not possess under UK law. **Option A** correctly captures both the absence of prescribing rights and the permitted scope of practice.

Reference: NHS England (2024). 'Supply and administration of medicines by dental hygienists and dental therapists.' https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/supply-and-administration-of-medicines-by-dental-hygienists-and-dental-therapists/