Pharmacy bodies must continue working together to realise the opportunities offered by the white paper, the NPA has stated.

NPA chief executive John Turk said: “The main challenges and opportunities can only be grasped if all those with an interest in community pharmacy pull together.”

Mr Turk said pharmacy bodies had been working together “to establish a profitable and sustainable future at the heart of the NHS”.

“Over the past 12 months the CEOs of the main pharmacy bodies have been meeting frequently to keep up the momentum and a number of ‘pan-pharmacy action teams’ have formed, each concerned with practical implementation,” Mr Turk said.

PSNC head of regulation Steve Lutener confirmed the pharmacy bodies have “worked together on many things over quite a long time”.

He said: “When we have a message that’s pharmacy related and we have a common position we try and work collaboratively.”

The NPA, RPSGB, PSNC, CCA and AIMp pledged to work together to implement the white paper in September 2008. The five groups have received the support of England’s chief pharmaceutical officer Keith Ridge.