My Lords, the Government are proposing changes that would improve patient access to medicines from dental practices and pharmacies. The draft statutory instrument before the House today covers two distinct professions: dental therapists or hygienists and pharmacy technicians. It will enable them both to use the full range of their skills to supply patients with the medicines they need, in a timely manner.

Our proposed changes will put exemptions in place for dental therapists and dental hygienists to supply or administer a range of medicines to patients which are part of their day-to-day job without having to refer to a dentist, so that they can deliver care without the need to organise additional appointments, or interrupt colleagues who are busy with other patients.

These are sensible, common-sense measures, freeing up precious time for clinicians and patients alike. Healthcare professionals have a responsibility to carry out care only where it is safe and they are competent to do so. Many of these professionals will already have extensive experience of using these medicines, but of course we will not compromise on safety.

Dental practices will be responsible for making sure that the clinicians undertaking the procedures have the knowledge, qualifications and skills to carry them out safely; and training will be made available for those who want to make use of the exemptions.

I turn to pharmacy technicians. Our proposals will allow them to supply or administer medicines to patients using mechanisms called patient group directions. A patient group direction—PGD—is a written instruction that allows some healthcare professionals to supply or administer specified medicines to patients with a certain condition, without the need for a prescription. They are developed by experts from a range of fields who thoroughly quality-assure every PGD before signing it off. Pharmacy technicians will be responsible for assessing whether patients fit the criteria.

Pharmacy technicians are qualified and regulated healthcare professionals, and noble Lords might have come across pharmacy technicians without realising who they are and what they do. You can find them in community and hospital pharmacies, GP practices, care homes, prisons, our Armed Forces and the pharmaceutical industry.

In conclusion, these regulations provide patients with access to a wider range of clinical services delivered by healthcare professionals with the right skills, at the right time, and support this Government’s ambition to improve outcomes for patients, while reducing demand on other parts of the service. I beg to move.