Pharmacists do not know how to discuss service commissioning with local GPs and the sector must formulate a more coherent message, the C+D Senate has warned.

One area that pharmacists should push for was a greater role in medicines management, the thinktank agreed.

Industry leaders discussed the issue, among others, at a C+D Senate, in association with Actavis, held earlier this month.

Pharmacists needed to identify a core message to take to GPs, Senators Devon LPC pharmacist Mark Stone and PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe said.

Mr Stone said the community pharmacy sector must come up with five clear points it could take to NHS commissioners when discussing pharmacy-based services.

One of those points should be getting pharmacy more involved in clinical pathways, he said.

"We have to be there so we can get directed MURs," Mr Stone warned.

Pushing for a greater medicines management role was also key, according to the Senators.

Senior pharmaceutical adviser for Havering PCT Mohamed Kanji told the Senate that it was clear there were problems with medicines management.

"We know that is not being done as 30 per cent to 50 per cent of medicines are not being used as directed, so [ask GPs] how can we work together to ensure that the medicines are being used in that way," Mr Kanji advised.

NHS commissioning lead for Rowlands Pharmacy Liz Stafford agreed that pharmacists needed to raise medicines management as a potential area that pharmacists could get more involved in.

Senators also discussed the importance of up-skilling staff, measuring quality and outcomes and working with NHS bodies to develop the role of pharmacy in the "new world" NHS.

A full write up of the latest C+D Senate meeting will be published in C+D next month.