Pharmacists and GPs to unite at new national conference

Community and practice pharmacists, GPs, nurses, and primary care leaders will come together this June at the Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference to explore how stronger neighbourhood partnerships can improve patient care and ease growing pressure on frontline services.

Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said the conference marks a major opportunity for closer working between pharmacy and general practice.

‘The conference is so important because it’s the first time we’re bringing together 1,000 pharmacists and GPs to talk about how we can deliver better services,’ he said.

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Taking place in Birmingham on 21-22 June, the free, CPD-accredited event is delivered in partnership between The Pharmacist and the National Pharmacy Association. The conference will focus on practical approaches to integrated neighbourhood care, service innovation and the future of primary care collaboration.

Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, added: ‘This is a unique national event bringing together community pharmacy and general practice with one shared goal – stronger collaboration for better patient care.’

Sukhi Basra, vice chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said the event comes at a crucial moment for neighbourhood healthcare integration.

‘Neighbourhood health isn’t coming – it’s already here. Pharmacies and practices that build relationships now will be the ones leading integrated neighbourhood teams and, in the years ahead, that’s what is going to be important. This event is your head start,’ she said.

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Sessions across the two-day programme will explore integrated neighbourhood care, workforce development, leadership, prescribing, vaccination delivery, weight management, patient-centred care and technology-enabled collaboration across primary care.

Delegates will also hear case studies and clinical updates focused on service innovation and cross-sector working, alongside structured networking opportunities designed to strengthen relationships between community pharmacy and general practice teams.

Vicki Roberts, service development manager at Community Pharmacy England, shared why she was attending: ‘Collaboration across primary care has never been as important as it is today. Both community pharmacy and general practice sectors are under intense pressure, and the conference is very much about finding practical and pragmatic ways to work better together to deliver better healthcare for our neighbourhoods and communities within them.’

Find Ms Basra and Mr Picard at the Opening Plenary - Team primary care: Uniting general practice and community pharmacy on Sunday June 21, and Mr Picard and Mr Gregg at the NPA Members’ Forum on Monday 22 June.

Whether you join for one day or the full two-day programme, the Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference is free to attend, and worth up to 10 CPD points.

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Find out more about the agenda and register for free here.