The safe supply of medicines must be the ‘key priority’ for pharmacies as GPs take collective action this month, Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has urged.

GP partners have started taking action this month that will see many practices ‘working-to-rule’ and only undertaking tasks included in their NHS contract.

GPs also have a list of actions they can ‘pick and choose’ to take – including the limitation of daily contacts per clinician and switching off the GP Connect Update Record that allows pharmacies to send data about Pharmacy First consultations.

CPE has issued a warning that the move is likely to result in more people seeking help and advice from their community pharmacy.

In an online statement, it said: ‘Pharmacy owners need to maintain the safety of their services, with the safe supply of medicines being a key priority.

‘If due to local action by GPs, patient demand for services and advice outstrips your capacity to provide it, you may need to activate part of your business continuity plan.’

For example, CPE said this may mean contractors decide they must prioritise all staff time to focus on the dispensing service and dealing with patients referred by NHS 111 or general practices, rather than people walking in or contacting the pharmacy for help and advice.

Posters have also been issued by CPE for pharmacies to personalise and print to display in the pharmacy, to help communicate to patients that they are busier than usual amid the GP action.

Pharmacies have also been asked to feedback to their local pharmaceutical committees about the impact of GP action on their ability to provide services to patients.

Last week, sector leaders warned community pharmacy had lost much of its ability to be a ‘shock absorber’ for other parts of primary care and that a ‘new deal’ was needed for pharmacy.

Polling revealed by CPE today has shown that thousands of pharmacies are being forced to stop providing NHS and public health services amid increasing financial and operational pressures.