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A letter signed by five pharmacy bodies attacking the “sneering” attitude of some GPs towards community pharmacies following an apparent attempt by two British Medical Association members to divert patients away from Pharmacy First was published in The Times yesterday.

Community Pharmacy England, National Pharmacy Association, Company Chemists’ Association, Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Independent Pharmacies’ Association presented a united front to criticise a communication this month from Dr Becky Haines and Dr Paul Evans urging GPs to dissuade patients from using Pharmacy First.

The pair said the service had “significant potential to undermine” GPs and was a way of getting patients “seen by less-skilled people”.

The five pharmacy bodies did not hold back in their response. “Sneering at other clinical professionals dies nothing to solve the crisis in the NHS and their words suggest a disregard for those reliant on health services,” they wrote.

They added: “That some GPs would rather block (Pharmacy First) than focus on helping patients get the healthcare they need says something worrying about their understanding of the crisis facing the NHS.”

Leading figures in the pharmacy sector leaders took to social media to welcome the five bodies coming together to defend Pharmacy First.

“Unity at last. Great work,” NPA chair Olivier Picard posted on LinkedIn.

“Well done all for coming together and showing a united front,” Community Pharmacy North-East London chief executive Shilpa Shah said.

The RPS president Claire Anderson said it was “great to work together for good of all” while NPA board member Ashley Cohen posted: “Our voices are amplified when we unite. Well done all for coming together.”

The BMA said Dr Haines’ and Dr Evans’ letter was not one of its communications and its contents did “not represent the position of the BMA or GP Committee England”. It also said the letter was “sent in error without the knowledge of the authors”.