The national flu service is one example of how the government wants to make better use of the sector, pharmacy minister Alistair Burt has said.

The government is “committed to promoting innovative models of primary care”, which includes “breaking down barriers” between pharmacists and other care providers, Mr Burt told parliament on Monday (September 21).

In response to a written question from Conservative MP Heather Wheeler about what the government is doing to increase primary care capacity, Mr Burt cited the launch of the flu service this month as one way “community pharmacists can provide support [to] GPs”.

He also gave the example of the clinical commissioning group in Ms Wheeler’s South Derbyshire constituency, which is “exploring the potential to pilot clinical pharmacists in general practice to reduce workload pressures on GPs”, he stressed.

The government is working with the NHS to “consider ways we can reduce bureaucracy and re-shape patient demand”, he added.

Local pharmaceutical committee (LPC) representatives told C+D yesterday (September 23) that the flu service has got off to a “flying start” in its first week.

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