Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference sparks cross-sector debate across primary care
Cogora's first Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference generated extensive editorial coverage across its brands as healthcare professionals from across primary care explored how closer collaboration can help transform patient care.
The two-day conference in June, run jointly with the National Pharmacy Association, provided a platform for government ministers, NHS leaders, clinicians and policy experts to discuss the future of integrated primary care with hundreds of delegates working in general practice and community pharmacy.
Cogora’s editorial team worked tirelessly across the two days to cover the event for their brands. Director of Content and Editorial, Gemma Collins, did the opening address on both days whilst editors chaired some of the sessions and worked with the reporters to capture the key topics and debates and generate more than 20 news stories, features and opinion pieces.
The Pharmacist and Pulse both reported on primary care minister Stephen Kinnock’s speech which kick-started the Birmingham event and set the collaborative tone for the two days as he stressed that the future success of the NHS will depend on stronger collaboration between community pharmacy and general practice.
The Pharmacist also highlighted the Government's ambition to expand the role of pharmacists with the delivery of independent prescribing services under the new pharmacy contract, helping to ease pressure on GPs.
The future of primary care commissioning and neighbourhood health featured prominently throughout the conference. Reporting across The Pharmacist, Pulse, Management in Practice, Healthcare Leader and Pulse PCN examined growing calls from system leaders for GP and pharmacy contracts to become more closely aligned, enabling neighbourhood teams to work more effectively together rather than through separate funding mechanisms.
Political leadership and NHS reform were another major focus, particularly as the conference coincided with prime minister Keir Starmer announcing his resignation and newly elected MP for Makerfield Andy Burnham throwing his hat in the ring to replace him.
The Pharmacist and Pulse covered long-standing Government adviser on neighbourhood health and former GP, Sir John Oldham’s session at the end of the first day when he warned it was the ‘last chance’ for GPs and community colleagues to ensure the future of the health service. He also argued that NHS England has been "institutionally biased" against primary care, as reported by The Pharmacist.
The Pharmacist, Management in Practice and Pulse also highlighted calls for vaccine commissioning arrangements to encourage collaboration rather than competition And Nursing in Practice reported on the Royal College of Nursing’s primary care nursing lead Kim Ball expressing optimism around increased collaboration between community pharmacy and practice nurses, while also highlighting funding challenges that continue to limit progress.
The impact that medicine shortages are having on general practice and community pharmacy was highlighted by Nursing in Practice as the conference heard how practice nurses are having to navigate patient anxieties, causing their appointments to be derailed as patients spend time discussing how to access their medicines.
Management in Practice, The Pharmacist and Nursing in Practice also reported how collaborative models between GP practices and community pharmacies have already freed thousands of GP appointments and Pulse editor Sofia Lind’s reflection on the event highlighted the very same point; how GPs and pharmacists recognising they are colleagues and not rivals can make a big impact on patient care.