All community pharmacists should be engaging with local politicians, independent pharmacist Graham Phillips told Sigma conference delegates, suggesting that current levels of representation isn't enough.

“If we want to improve out circumstances for the future, we have to engage in politics,” he said via video link, accusing the profession of being ‘apolitical’.

“Do not stand aside and expect the pharmacy body to do it for you – because it’s demonstrably not working,” he declared.

All community pharmacists should be active in telling their local MPs about what pharmacy does, and the importance of what pharmacy does, on a regular basis, he said. “Yet, we don’t engage until there is a crisis.”

With fast-changing national politics, ground work such as this could particularly pay off if an MP moved into a position of influence. “That local MP is tomorrow’s minister,” he suggested.

Getting involved in local radio and other media to talk about pharmacy has led him to appear on national TV and other national forums, he said, advising others to also do what they can on their own doorstep.