Multiples condemn pharmacists avoiding GP consortia

Pharmacy multiples have condemned pharmacists opting not to engage with GP consortia as NHS reforms take shape.

Employers warned that the failure to engage could damage both businesses and the profession.

The comments came after a C+D online poll found that only 5 per cent of respondents had so far engaged with GP consortia.

Eighty eight per cent of pharmacists said they hadn't talked to their local GP practices about consortia, with 60 per cent of those saying they would wait for GP consortia to ask them for input, and 40 per cent saying the LPC would do it for them.

Lloydspharmacy pharmacy director Andy Murdock said the situation "could be disastrous".

"It either shows a vast misunderstanding of what is going on, ignorance, or even arrogance," Mr Murdock added.

"The danger is that if pharmacists are going to wait for the GP consortia to go to them then they will miss out, which will harm not only their business but also the profession," Mr Murdock said.

Boots UK and the Co-operative Pharmacy agreed the results were concerning. 

"We need to engage with consortia at every level as they begin to emerge, as every bit of knowledge gathered will be valuable to shaping pharmacy's future," Co-operative Pharmacy managing director John Nuttall said.

Experts called for pharmacists to be more active. Numark director of professional services Mimi Lau said: "Contractors cannot rely on GP consortia coming to them, this will not happen."
 

"In some ways I understand the argument for LPCs being the appropriate channel for engaging consortia, but that begs the question as to whether they are actually fit for purpose and my opinion is that they are not," Mr Murdock continued.

Mr Murdock said generally LPCs were too small and underfunded to be able to make any real difference.