Issue - meetings

One of the Board’s statutory duties is to produce and approve the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA). The purpose of the PNA is to inform commissioners about the potential need for pharmacy-based services in an area.

Duncan Vernon and Michael Maddocks introduced a report and gave a presentation on the Coventry and Warwickshire Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2022 – 2025. The purpose of the PNA was to assess local needs and identify gaps for pharmaceutical provision across Coventry and Warwickshire. It was a tool to enable the Health and Wellbeing Board to identify the current and future commissioning of services required from pharmaceutical service providers. A collaborative approach had been undertaken with Coventry. The PNA had undergone a period of formal consultation, which closed on 29^th August and a verbal update was provided on the feedback received. Sections of the report provided background, and the minimum requirements for this process.

A copy of the PNA was included within the document pack. The accompanying presentation focussed on the service recommendations, overall recommendations and providing an update from consultation feedback. The key areas of feedback were:

• Opening times for boots pharmacies
• End of life medicines provision
• Sharps disposal
• Smoking cessation advanced service
• References to CCG updated to ICB in the document
• Additional note in appendices that pharmacies do not order or deliver scripts so any issues relating to that are beyond their control, and additional reflection on pharmacy pressures causing unplanned closures
• Hypertension recommendation expanded
• COVID-19 vaccination included (Phase 5)
• Numbers added to a chart on pharmacies per 10,000 population

Questions and comments were submitted:

• It was questioned if the PNA took account of anticipated population increases and whether the current pharmacies were in the correct locations. It was confirmed that there was adequate pharmacy provision now and there was the option to undertake a supplementary PNA, if required, following population growth.
• Further information was sought about smoking cessation services. There were two commissioned offers, a new one from NHS England for patients discharged from hospital and a locally commissioned service for Warwickshire, which had recently been reviewed and recommissioned.
• On drug and alcohol services, there was disparity across the County for example in the provision of needle disposal points. From feedback received it seemed that some pharmacies were not interested. The recommendation around sharps disposal was therefore welcomed.
• A question on needle exchange points, whether they were in the correct locations and whether a mapping exercise should be undertaken.
• On sharps bins, the numbers utilising the service was currently low, but it was hoped publicity and clarification of the service would increase uptake. An offer to seek more detailed feedback from the pharmaceutical steering group. For needle exchange, the core mapping had been undertaken and it appeared that adequate provision was made, but commissioners would keep this under review. The Chair requested a written update on the needle exchange and sharps disposal aspects.

Resolved

That Health and Wellbeing Board:

1. Notes and comments upon the contents of the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) as set out above.

2. Notes and comments as shown above upon the verbal update on consultation feedback.

Approves the publication of the PNA subject to any changes mentioned in the formal consultation verbal update.