TY - JOUR T1 - The future role of pharmacists in primary care JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 891 LP - 892 DO - 10.3399/bjgp09X473105 VL - 59 IS - 569 AU - CP Bradley Y1 - 2009/12/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/59/569/891.abstract N2 - Life in primary care used to be relatively simple with GPs and pharmacists having well-defined roles and a boundary between them that was well recognised and generally respected by both. GPs prescribed and pharmacists dispensed medicines. There were, of course, always exceptions to these roles and blurring of the boundaries. Some GPs in remote and rural areas dispensed medicines, and pharmacists, while not actually prescribing, have always been happy to discuss patients' complaints with them and make recommendations for medicines to treat ‘minor ailments’ — a bit like a doctor. Pharmacists had an additional role of acting as error trappers for the occasional slip of the pen made by GPs. By and large, though, the two professions accepted their respective places in the primary care firmament.However, this cosy clarity no longer prevails and this presents challenges to both professions. Pharmacists, in particular, have been seeking to redefine themselves and develop new and extended roles. Some pharmacists are now becoming independent prescribers and are allowed to prescribe without reference to a doctor. Even pharmacists who choose not to become prescribers are able to recommend a much wider range of over-the-counter medicines and, thereby, become involved in the treatment of a much wider range of conditions. They are facilitated in this by ongoing initiatives to deregulate medicines from prescription-only to pharmacy licensing status.Pharmacists are also becoming increasingly involved in a variety of processes around medicines use known broadly as ‘medicines management’; for example, pharmacists have been involved in the management of general practice repeat prescribing systems.1 They have also undertaken clinical medication reviews of older people in their own homes and in residential care and of patients with specific long-term conditions, such as heart failure.2–4In England community pharmacists can … ER -