7 April 2015

NHS Alliance Backs RCGP and RPS Proposals on GP Practice Based Pharmacists

Speaking after today’s announcement from the RCGP and RPS, Mark Robinson, medicines, pharmacy and medicines optimisation lead at NHS Alliance, said: “NHS Alliance welcomes today’s announcement from the RCGP and RPS. The proposed plan highlights the need for a mixture of skills within the evolving general practice model, and sheds some light on how pharmacists could provide a timely addition to the practice team. The news builds upon work that NHS Alliance has been doing over the past six months, much of which has demonstrated that patients value the ability to choose between a practice nurse, practice pharmacist, or a GP, depending on their needs.

“NHS Alliance believes that the government and NHS England should support this initiative. We must create a system where all providers of primary care are encouraged to integrate wherever possible, as we begin to implement the new models of care set out in Simon Stevens’ Five Year Forward View.”

Revealed: How GPs and pharmacists are breaking down old boundaries

Pharmacists and general practice: A practical and timely part of solving the primary care workload and workforce crisis

Notes to editors

NHS Alliance is the leading independent voice for providers of health and social care outside hospital. It is the only not-for-profit membership organisation to bring together frontline clinicians and organisations of all kinds in our communities – from general practice, community pharmacy to providers of housing and emergency services.

It has the ear of Government and policy makers and is an engine for change, actively involved in shaping and driving new agendas and policies that affect patient care outside hospital. It is driving a new integrated and collaborative, community-based model of care for an ageing population living with long term conditions, and is focused on breaking down the historic boundaries and silos that get in the way of truly progressive and innovative community-based patient care.

For further information please contact Stewart Laing, stewart.laing@salixandco.com / 07725 555030