BMA And NPA Launch GP - Pharmacist Workbook, UK

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 04 Mar 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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The General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association and the National Pharmacy Association have produced a workbook entitled 'Improving communication between community pharmacy and general practice' to help facilitate local dialogue between the two professional groups, helping to improve patient care.

The workbook describes various Community Pharmacy-GP interactions, and highlights some principles of good practice. The intention is that groups of pharmacists and GPs should work through this book together to identify local challenges and formulate solutions. It could be used at a meeting of local practices and pharmacies, or alternatively between Local Pharmaceutical Committees and Local Medical Committees. It has been designed so that participants can choose to complete the whole workbook, or select relevant sections.

Colette McCreedy, NPA Director of Pharmacy and Chief Pharmacist said: "Interaction between GPs and pharmacists are more important today than ever. With many pharmacists now carrying out interventions such as MURs and offering services such as repeat dispensing it is vital that there is a good dialogue between the pharmacy and the GP surgery. Positive general practice-community pharmacy relationships are important in providing seamless patient care."

Dr Laurence Buckman of the BMA said: "The GP-Pharmacist workbook is an extremely useful resource that will help GPs manage their communications with community pharmacists in an efficient and smooth fashion. Through mutual understanding and shared learning we will find that we can make our jobs easier. I'm sure it will be a helpful aide to GPs across the country as well as improving relations between professionals."

The NPA is also developing background notes to support the running of joint workshops between pharmacy and general practice.

National Pharmacy Association