A parliamentary motion calling for pharmacy to have a guaranteed place on GP consortia had been backed by 32 MPs as C+D went to press. The MP signatures followed calls by Devon LPC (C+D, March 5, p8) and the Independent Pharmacy Federation (IPF) for pharmacists to garner support for the motion. A template letter for pharmacists to send to their MPs is available to download from www.chemistand druggist.co.uk/news. The IPF, working with Sigma Pharmaceuticals, distributed a version of this letter to over 2,000 pharmacists and said so far more than 100 letters had been sent to MPs, asking them to back the motion and inviting them to visit a local independent pharmacy. The early day motion put forward by Brighton and Hove MP Caroline Lucas in February calls on the government to ensure GP consortia have to include a representative of independent pharmacies. Devon LPC said engaging with GP consortia would be a "key objective" for local pharmaceutical committees in the new NHS. 

Download the template letter here.