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Health regulators in the UK have released a joint statement in a bid to crack down on prescription direction and commercial interests potentially affecting where flu vaccinations are provided.

The General Pharmaceutical Council, General Medical Council and Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland issued the statement in response to recent claims that health professionals have inappropriately influenced patients and the public when making decisions about where they access services such as flu vaccinations or prescription dispensing.

The statement makes clear that pharmacy professionals and doctors must support informed decision making by patients and do not inappropriately influence patients' choices. €Care of patients must always be the first priority and access to services such as flu vaccinations should not be affected by commercial interests,€ state the regulators.

Anyone who has a specific concern on this matter should contact NHS England or their local health board in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. €Evidence of inappropriate payments or attempts to deceive patients would raise questions about the professionalism of doctors and pharmacists, and could result in investigation,€ the statement warns.