Decision details

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Director of Public Health, Lancashire County Council provided an overview of the purpose of the Lancashire Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2022 together with an update on the current development of the PNA prior to a formal public consultation taking place later this summer.

The three Health and Wellbeing Boards across pan-Lancashire have a statutory responsibility to push and keep up to date a statement of the needs for pharmaceutical services of the population in its area.

The Board noted that decisions on whether to open new pharmacies are made by the local NHS England team and when making the decision NHS England is required to refer to the local Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment.  As these decisions may be appealed or challenged via the courts, it is therefore important that pharmaceutical needs assessments, both in their content and in the process of their construction, comply with regulations and that mechanisms are established to keep the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment up to date. 

In accordance with these regulations, the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment must be updated every three years and the 2022 version is currently being prepared for publication later this year.

Following the presentation, the following issues/points were raised:

·  It was queried as to whether the assessment considered the lack of pharmacy provision at weekends.  The Board were informed that it did consider this as well as driving times and they are both considered when pharmacy changes are happening.

·  Concern was also raised, regarding access to emergency prescriptions and collection from pharmacy.  Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Director of Public Health, Lancashire County Council agreed to submit this as a concern into the consultation, however it was noted that there was always a 24-hour pharmacy available if people do attend an out of hours appointment.

·  There was a query regarding a change of hours to a pharmacy that had happened without notice, with no details provided about the emergency pharmacy provision.  Dr Sakthi Karunanithi agreed to raise this on behalf of the Board.

·  There was a query regarding public engagement in the needs assessment.  The Board were informed that there was a number of modes of engagement being planned, including digital sources. It was agreed that the consultation plan would be shared with members of the Board.

Resolved:  That the Health and Wellbeing Board:

(i)  Endorsed the continued development of the Lancashire Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2022.

(ii)  Noted the proposed public consultation that is due to take place during July/August.

(iii)  Receive the final version of the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment once completed in early Autumn 2022.

(iv)  That the Consultation Plan be shared with members of the Health and Wellbeing Board.