National Pharmacy Association (NPA) staff and members have met with patient groups in Westminster to agree broad principles of access to medicines, medicines advice and primary care.

The roundtable discussion, which included representatives from the British Heart Foundation, Parkinson’s UK, Kidney Care UK, the Hepatitis C Society and Healthwatch England, considered the service user perspective on waiting times, face-to-face care, digital technology and the importance of integrating community pharmacy care into NHS urgent care pathways.

Jane Dunnage, who has lupus, commented: “Community pharmacists don’t blow their own trumpet enough. They do more than dispense pills, and everyone at the meeting agreed that medicines alone, without the wraparound support, are not enough to keep people in good health over the long term. I want to see pharmacies do more to improve access to care.”

The first in a series of themed NPA discussions with key stakeholders about emerging developments in pharmacy policy and practice, the roundtable also marked the beginning of a partnership with the charitable sector about reducing the risk of medicines errors.