Inaugural Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference sparks a new era of collaboration
Hundreds of healthcare professionals gathered at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham last month for the inaugural Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference.
Launched by Cogora, publishers of Pulse and The Pharmacist, in partnership with the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), the event set out to achieve something genuinely different: bringing together community pharmacy and general practice - two sectors that, despite serving the same patients, have too often been positioned as competitors by policy in areas such as vaccination, misaligned NHS contracts and service delivery.
The conference aimed to strengthen collaboration between the professions, exploring how they can better harness their complementary skills, align services, free up clinician time, improve efficiency and, ultimately, deliver better patient care and outcomes.
Gemma Collins, Director of Content and Editorial at Cogora, said: “This conference reflects our shared belief that stronger partnerships between community pharmacy and general practice are essential to delivering more proactive, accessible and patient-centred care.”
Olivier Picard, Chair of the NPA, commented: “This is a unique national event bringing together community pharmacy and general practice with one shared goal – stronger collaboration for better patient care”.
The two-day programme opened with a video address from Stephen Kinnock MP, Minister of State for Care, who said: “Stronger collaboration between GPs and community pharmacy is not just desirable, it is vital to the future success of the NHS.” Sessions were grouped around five key themes developed with input from a Programme Advisory Committee representing the British Medical Association, Community Pharmacy England, the Royal College of Pharmacy, LMCs, LPCs, ICBs, PCNs, other key primary care organisations and patients.
Sessions focused on:
- Collaboration in Action – showcasing successful joint working in areas including Pharmacy First and vaccination.
- Workforce and Leadership – including a lively discussion on leading change in Manchester.
- AI and Technology for Integration – exploring how digital platforms and data can enable closer collaboration.
- Business and Service Innovation – examining opportunities to align pathways such as cardiovascular disease.
- Clinical Skills Boosters – covering topics including respiratory disease, obesity and allergy.
Programme highlights included a keynote from GP and former Government health advisor Professor Sir John Oldham, who urged: “My encouragement to you at this conference and others is act together to make sure what is necessary for the people you look after happens, and if we do that, then we have a chance, and I really believe that this is the last chance to secure the future of the NHS care system as we know it.’
The second day opened with a high-profile cross-sector debate exploring how community pharmacy and general practice can move beyond simply being neighbours to becoming trusted partners working together for patients.
The speaker line-up reflected the breadth of primary care, featuring Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown OBE, President of Council, RCGP, Dr Richard Vautrey CBE, GP and President, RCGP and Past Chair, BMA’s GP Committee, Kim Ball, UK Professional Lead – Primary Care, RCN, and David Webb, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England, alongside a compelling patient perspective from Steve Gilbert OBE.
The conference also showcased collaboration in action through the popular Hall of Heroes poster exhibition and lightning talks, highlighting innovative examples of partnership working from across the country. These displays became a focal point of activity on the exhibition floor, alongside a 69-stand exhibition featuring pharmaceutical companies, clinician-led start-ups, charities and healthcare suppliers serving both sectors.
Networking continued into the Sunday evening with a drinks reception and buffet in the courtyard, giving delegates the opportunity to build the professional relationships that will help turn ideas into action.
The conference itself was made possible through the support of a broad coalition of primary care organisations. Community Pharmacy England (CPE), the Centre of Pharmacy Post Graduate Education (CPPE), the Primary Care Pharmacy Association (PCPA), the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing (QICN) and PMA joined as official event partners, underlining the sector-wide commitment to closer collaboration and integrated primary care.
The enthusiasm for this shared mission continued well beyond the event itself, with more than 120 LinkedIn posts, photos and reflections celebrating the conference.
"One key message emerged: Community pharmacies and GP practices may operate under different contracts, but they serve the same patients..." - Bola Sotuba, Senior Healthcare Leader
"The biggest takeaway? Primary care and community pharmacy are natural allies forced into a system historically set up to make us adversaries." - Community Pharmacy Hertfordshire
Following the success of the inaugural event, planning is already underway for the 2027 Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference. Dates and venue will be announced shortly.