Dr. Susan O'Dwyer:

Pharmacists and GPs work closely together in primary care and have a very good, strong working relationship on a local basis. The idea here relates to the patient. What we have are two healthcare professionals who will put the patient first. If the patient can be dealt with at the lowest level of complexity, if that is in the pharmacy, GPs can be and have been supportive of that. We will often refer patients to GPs. Equally, GPs will sometimes refer patients to pharmacies. It is about being able to work together with the patient as the core element. If pharmacists are embedded more into primary care networks, that interdisciplinary working in a primary care setting will become even stronger.