In a new campaign to promote a more integrated approach to care by pharmacists and GPs, the RPS English Pharmacy Board is calling for:

• GPs to embrace the potential that pharmacists can bring to the care of their patients
• Local commissioners to include pharmacist expertise in all care pathways that use medicines including the formal involvement of community pharmacists in local care pathways
• NHS England to support the spread of good practice and the dissemination of evidence which shows the benefits of pharmacist input in GP surgeries.

“Pharmacists and general practitioners have a common interest in treating and managing illnesses by using medicines in a way that enhances the lives of people,” said David Branford, chair of the English Pharmacy Board. “I believe that is most likely to be achieved by bringing our two professions together, using our respective skills and expertise on a day-to-day basis to deliver better use of medicines.”

The campaign involves two equally important approaches, he says. “The first involves greater use of community pharmacists, working much more closely with general practice. The second involves pharmacists working directly in GP surgeries.”

Dr Branford outlined an ambition for every GP practice to have a pharmacy team similar to that on wards in hospitals. “We are launching this campaign because both Dr Maureen Baker [chair of the RCGP] and I have a solid belief that bringing pharmacists into the GP team will improve the quality of care for patients.”