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Concerns were raised at the Avicenna members conference last weekend that "many" GPs were booking and administering flu vaccinations during September in breach of the service specifications.

"Everyone's aware of it," said Day Lewis executive director Jay Patel while speaking alongside Community Pharmacy London chair Raj Matharu in a panel session.

Mr Matharu urged any contractors who were aware of their local doctors vaccinating patients other than pregnant women before the October 1 start date to raise it with their LPC "who will look at the data". 

Mr Matharu emphasised that vaccinations recorded before October 1 will not be reimbursed by the NHS, adding that if "they haven't recorded it but plan to record it later, [regional NHS teams] will still go and investigate that".

"It's no good just talking about it - you have to let us know," he said. P3pharmacy has approached NHS England to learn whether it is investigating any allegations concerning early flu vaccine provision.

Mr Patel cautioned against "sensationalising" the issue, explaining that "the noise" generated by the topic "doesn't always reflect the number of incidences... not all GPs are starting vaccinations early".

P3pharmacy has spoken to a number of contractors from across England who believe their local GPs were administering flu vaccines during September. One contractor said their local surgery cancelled bookings after the pharmacy raised the issue.

Mr Matharu also spoke of ongoing difficulties around contractors hitting their monthly Pharmacy First targets and said there is still a lack of awareness among both the public and other primary care providers.

He said of GPs that "incredibly, they are still confused about Pharmacy First," adding that he has heard others "bitch and moan" about the service. 

"I had one particular GP say to me, why should I refer to you and you get 20 quid," Mr Matharu recounted. 

He continued: "Unfortunately. in South East London only 43 per cent of contractors are hitting their Pharmacy First target. 

"I've calculated that in a year that means nearly £2m worth of lost incentive payments for contractors.

"That's £2m that would have been invested in community pharmacy."