Unless you are great at marketing, it's difficult to influence and engage with someone you are unable to see or communicate directly with. GPs are inundated with hundreds of emails a day, and unless you are lucky, they are unlikely to reply to an unsolicited email from you.

Some of us may be familiar with trying to book a meeting with a GP partner and being blocked by a senior receptionist. Others are lucky enough to see the practice manager, but struggle to get any further. These individuals are 'gatekeepers' and their role is more important than you think. Aim to build a rapport with these individuals; pop into the surgery to collect prescriptions at least once a week.

Let the practice staff become familiar with you: express your personality and interests in conversation (holidays or hobbies, etc) to help build your relationship. Show your appreciation for their help, perhaps by offering staff discounts when they visit your pharmacy.

Some individuals in the practice will have greater motivation, budget or authority to collaborate. Be clear who these people are from the outset. If the practice has a resident clinical pharmacist or there is a visiting CCG pharmacist, try to see them first. They may not have the authority or budget, but may have the motivation to collaborate. What's more, you can immediately create a rapport through common ground €“ medicines.

This could perhaps help to open doors to create a joint meeting with the people who wear the budgetary and authority hats (usually a lead GP). How community pharmacy can use its existing service provision to improve the care of the patients that the GP specialises in is most likely to be the hook to secure a meeting.