The recent announcement from NHS England of a pilot project that will part fund the cost of employing clinical pharmacists in GP surgeries for 3 years1 has been welcomed by the professional bodies that represent pharmacists and doctors.2,3 It is part of a plan developed with the British Medical Association to alleviate GP workload pressures and make general practice a more attractive career.3 The Royal Pharmaceutical Society believes that patients in primary care should have the benefit of a pharmacist's clinical expertise similar to that currently experienced by patients in hospital.2 Interest in developing similar schemes has been expressed by other devolved health administrations.3 …