EXCLUSIVE

Most GPs are planning to employ pharmacists, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has said, following its calls for them to do so.

RPS English Pharmacy Board chair David Branford told C+D on Wednesday (May 13) that "almost every” GP he had spoken to was considering hiring a pharmacist, after the RPS announced plans with the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) in March to employ an “army” of pharmacists in GP surgeries.

NHS Alliance and the National Association of Primary Care had also thrown their support behind the initiative, as had patient groups, Mr Branford said.

“A number of primary care organisations have approached me to say they’d come round to our way of thinking – they realise this is actually going to help them and will increase opportunities for community pharmacists,” he said.

The RPS did not have any figures for how many GPs were planning to employ a pharmacist in their practice, but Mr Branford stressed that the “case had already been made successfully” for the benefits of this model.

The RPS and the RCGP were “waiting for announcements” from the new government about how it would take the initiative forward, Mr Branford said.

“There has been interest in the potential of pharmacists who can deal with GP manpower [issues]. Pharmacists are able to improve the way medicines are managed in general practice and everyone is very excited about that,” he added.

Last week, the RCGP said it was “looking forward” to working with the new government to place pharmacists in surgeries. In March, the RPS and the RCGP reassured the sector that pharmacists employed in GP practices would remain "autonomous", in response to concerns from C+D readers that the plans could put GPs “in full control” of primary healthcare. 

Would you consider employment in a GP practice?

We want to hear your views, but please express them in the spirit of a constructive, professional debate. For more information about what this means, please click here to see our community principles and information