Community pharmacy and general practice: working in harmony
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This month, healthcare professionals across England have been awaiting the arrival of the long-anticipated 10-Year Health Plan. While full details are still under wraps, the plan is billed to bring primary care to the forefront of healthcare provision, with community pharmacists and GPs playing a central role.
The sometimes strained relationship between community pharmacy and general practice has come into the spotlight the past year, with controversy around pharmacy first referrals and GPs backing proposals to scrap community pharmacy services representing just a small part of a wider sense of disconnect. However, from the little already known of the 10-Year Health Plan and the government’s current priorities, it is evident that meaningful collaboration between the general practice and community pharmacy is essential to achieving the plan’s ambitions.
At The Pharmacy Show 2024, Hemant Patel, Director of Medicines and Clinical Policy for the Black Country ICB, delivered an insightful presentation exploring the key challenges, failures, and successes of driving a system-wide approach to primary care collaboration.
In the seminar entitled “Community pharmacy and general practice: working in harmony,” Patel showcased how the Black Country ICB built strong, practical partnerships between pharmacies and general practice to improve access, reduce pressure on GPs, and tackle health inequalities.
Re-examining this talk against a backdrop of the upcoming plan provides practical insight into how system leaders can operationalise collaboration to meet both immediate service pressures and longer-term transformation goals.
You can watch to the full recording from last year’s Pharmacy Show here: Community pharmacy and general practice: working in harmony
About the Speaker
Hemant is Director of Medicines and Clinical Policy at Black Country ICB, responsible for commissioning medicines and clinical policies for 1.3million people. Leading a large team of clinical and non-clinical staff to improve the health outcomes for this population. Having worked in every sector of pharmacy, and worked as a independent prescriber for many of these years, Hemant now holds a strategic role. To support junior pharmacists, he co-founded the Midlands Practice Pharmacy Network. Along his career he has completed an MSc in Prescribing and one in Healthcare Leadership. Most recently awarded a Fellowship by the RPS and an honorary degree for his services to prescribing and pharmacy.
Don’t miss the chance to learn more about community pharmacy’s role in the next decade of healthcare, along with all the other key updates you need to know to stay ahead.
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