New guidelines have been published for GPs and community pharmacists to promote greater understanding between the two professions.
NHS Employers produced the two documents in partnership with the GPs’ Committee (GPC) of the British Medical Association and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.
They aim to improve primary care services for patients and create increasingly effective working relationships.
The guides provide staff with information about the disciplines and include details on funding arrangements, the Quality and Outcomes Framework and prescribing polices and the range of clinical and administrative functions that practices and community pharmacies provide.
The professional relationships working group produced The GP practice – a guide for community pharmacists and pharmacy staff; and The community pharmacy – a guide for general practitioners and practice staff.
Felicity Cox, lead negotiator, NHS Employers, said: “In a time when the NHS is working hard to deliver efficiency savings across the service, these guides provide a timely, straightforward insight to support the two medical groups to work better together. They are useful to commissioners as they help to highlight possibilities for new ways of integrated working in primary care.”
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