The general practitioners (GPs) are expected to decide whether the British Medical Association should push to have Pharmacy First scrapped, and the funds be reallocated to practices.
This comes amid media reports of GPs being unhappy with the Pharmacy First scheme, which allows pharmacists to provide consultations and medications for seven common conditions, eliminating the need for a GP appointment for those specific issues.
They include treatment for ailments such as sinusitis, sore throats, earaches in children, shingles, impetigo, infected insect bites, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women.
The annual conference of local medical committees (LMC), to be held on November 7 in Manchester, will consider a range of motions proposed for the BMA’s general practice committee to adopt as policy, according to media reports.
The simmering tension between the GPs and pharmacists came to a head when a letter, allegedly issued by the BMA, claimed that Pharmacy First ‘undermines’ the GPs.
The letter claimed that the Pharmacy First scheme allows 'less-skilled people' to see patients.
It created a furore among the pharmacists, and the BMA was quick to clarify that the letter was ‘sent in error’ and was not its communication.
The Community Pharmacy England (CPE) chief executive, Janet Morrison, and National Pharmacy Association chief executive Henry Gregg had condemned BMA's attitude.
“The approach taken by these GPs suggests a total disregard for patients and for other health professionals, and does nothing to help resolve the ongoing crisis in the health service,” Morrison said.
“It’s extremely disappointing if some senior figures in the BMA want to divert people away from the successful and popular Pharmacy First service. That would not help patients and fly in the face of everyone’s ambition to enhance access to neighbourhood health services for in our communities,” Gregg said.
