The public has a poor understanding of what is meant by ‘primary care’ with only a third of people recognising community pharmacy as part of this sector, reveals a new survey. The YouGov poll of 2,400 people is part of a report called ‘We are primary care’, published jointly by Pharmacy Voice, the NHS Alliance, the Optical Confederation and the National Community Hearing Association. The research found that while three-quarters of Britons regard general practices as primary care providers, a relatively small percentage consider community pharmacies (34 per cent), optometrists (31 per cent) or community hearing aid services (24 per cent) as integral parts of the primary care team.

Dr Michael Dixon, chairman at NHS Alliance, said: “Primary care isn’t, and shouldn’t be, all about general practice. Rather, primary care should be seen as a cohesive whole bringing together community pharmacy, eye care and hearing services, dental practice and even providers of housing, emergency services and communities themselves, alongside general practice.”