Doctors and pharmacists “must be open” about the different ways in which patients can access NHS services, including the national flu service, GMC chief executive Niall Dickson told C+D yesterday (October 4).

The flu vaccination service “should not be determined by commercial interest” and healthcare professionals should “not allow financial or other interests to affect the way they treat, refer or commission services for patients”, Mr Dickson added.

Mr Dickson’s comments come after C+D readers shared a number of examples of GP surgeries discouraging patients from visiting a pharmacy for their flu jab, including notices on surgery websites, electronic prescriptions and text messages.

One surgery is reportedly threatening to “delist” patients thinking of getting a pharmacy vaccination, while another has suggested patients are being “accosted” by their pharmacist to get a flu jab.

While the GMC "regulates individual doctors, not practices", Mr Dickson said it "expects organisations and employers to involve the GMC if they consider our standards have not been met”.

NHS England has already confirmed to C+D it will "look into complaints" from pharmacists about the matter.

C+D's bloggers Xrayser and Dr Messenger have both written about the recent GP-flu tensions. Read their blogs here and here.

C+D will be reporting more on this over the next week. If you become aware of any flu diversion tactics, email [email protected] or tweet us @ChemistDruggist.