The Primary Care Pharmacists' Association (PCPA) has set up a specialist group for pharmacists interested in working in GP practices.

The PCPA said it was "ideally placed to offer help and advice" to aspiring surgery pharmacists through the group, unveiled last week (March 31). 

The announcement came after the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) set out plans to employ an “army” of pharmacists in GP practices, and the PCPA said the forum would enable pharmacists to make a "smooth transition" to the new setting.

It would also act as a forum for pharmacists already employed in surgeries, said PCPA practice pharmacy lead Ravi Sharma, who set out hopes that it would lead to the sharing of best practice and ideas.

“I hope all pharmacists currently working in GP surgeries will get involved to ensure they share their expertise with colleagues [and] enable us to develop a practice pharmacy team [that works] to the benefit of all patients,” Mr Sharma said.

The organisation is also developing a support pack – to be endorsed by the RPS and published this month – to assist GPs who are considering employing a primary care pharmacist.

All qualified pharmacists, technicians and pre-reg pharmacists can join the group for free here.

Last month, the RPS and the RCGP addressed concerns from the sector that their plans would give GPs more commissioning power and remove funds from community pharmacy.

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