Henry Gregg, Chief Executive of the National Pharmacy Association said:
“It’s extremely disappointing if some senior figures in the BMA want to divert people away from the successful and popular Pharmacy First service. That would not help patients and fly in the face of everyone’s ambition to enhance access to neighbourhood health services in our communities.
“We want to work with our colleagues across primary care including general practice to improve neighbourhood services for patients and ensure all healthcare professionals – including expert community pharmacists and general practitioners - work collaboratively to serve their communities.
“The Pharmacy First service is convenient, safe and effective for patients and works well in a greatly expanded form in Scotland, supporting GPs and other parts of the health service. We understand the pressure both community pharmacy and general practice faces but we won’t find solutions by pitting professional against professional.
“The future of primary care is inevitably going to involve everyone in primary care working together ever more closely, so it makes sense to put any differences aside in the interests of expanding and improving sustainable pharmacy and GP services for everyone.”
