For many years, conversations about primary care have focused on one question: how do we increase capacity?

More recently, however, a different question has begun to emerge.

How do we make better use of the expertise that already exists across primary care?

The relationship between general practice and community pharmacy offers one of the clearest examples of that shift. Rather than asking individual professions to absorb ever-growing demand alone, recent policy, workforce developments and service redesign are pointing towards a more collaborative model of care, where patients receive support from the right professional at the right time.

The Government's recent announcement of a £340 million investment in community pharmacy reinforces that direction of travel. Alongside continued expansion of clinical services delivered through pharmacy, the investment reflects a broader ambition to improve access to care while making better use of the wider primary care workforce.

That ambition is also reflected in the 2026/27 GP Contract, which continues to support multidisciplinary working and neighbourhood models of care. Rather than viewing general practice and community pharmacy as separate services, policy increasingly encourages a more connected approach to delivering care closer to home.

Perhaps the most significant change is not simply the expansion of pharmacy services, but the changing role of pharmacy professionals themselves.

With growing numbers of pharmacists qualifying as independent prescribers, opportunities for closer collaboration continue to develop. Patients may receive assessment, prescribing and follow-up through different members of the primary care team, reducing unnecessary referrals while allowing clinicians to focus their expertise where it is needed most.

Health Minister Stephen Kinnock recently described stronger collaboration between general practice and community pharmacy as an important part of reducing pressure across primary care, recognising that meeting future demand will depend on making the best use of the wider clinical workforce rather than expecting any single profession to carry increasing responsibility alone.

For practices, this is about much more than expanding services. As pharmacy professionals take on broader clinical responsibilities, success will depend on clear communication, mutual trust and shared understanding across the wider multidisciplinary team. Good collaboration is not created through policy alone; it is built through relationships between professionals who understand one another's skills, responsibilities and contribution to patient care.

For patients, those relationships are often invisible, yet they shape the experience of care every day. Whether collecting a prescription, receiving advice for a minor illness or being referred back to their GP, patients benefit most when information flows smoothly and professionals work together rather than in parallel.

As primary care continues to evolve, collaboration is likely to become one of its defining characteristics. The challenge is no longer deciding which profession should do more; it's understanding how each profession can contribute most effectively within an increasingly connected system.

These ideas are also reflected in the first release of the Best Practice Birmingham 2026 programme, where multidisciplinary working, workforce and integrated primary care feature prominently across the discussions announced so far.