Agenda item

To consider the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (2022-25) consultation.

The Board received a report on the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (2022-25) consultation.

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made:

·       Gabriel Agboado explained that Health and Wellbeing Boards had responsibility for developing and updating the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA).  It had to be updated every three years or sooner if there were significant changes in the needs for pharmaceutical services.

·       Due to Covid pressures Healthy Dialogues Ltd had been commissioned to develop the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment by the Berkshire East Public Health Hub.  The Board noted the membership of the PNA Steering Group.

·       A key element of changes in need related to population growth.  It was anticipated that within the lifetime of the iteration of the PNA the Borough’s population would increase by 2.4% to 179,888.  The population aged 15-24 years was expected to increase by 7.3% by 2025, and the population aged 65 and over was expected to increase by 6.4%.  With regards to housing development there could be an increase of approximately 3,451 dwellings, with the biggest increase expected to be seen in Finchampstead South.

·       Gabriel Agboado outlined the accessibility considerations for the location of pharmacies, including using a 1-mile radius from the centre of a postcode of each pharmacy.  In addition, 20 minutes by car was considered accessible.  Where areas of no coverage were identified other factors were taken into account.

·       Overall, there was a good pharmacy coverage to provide essential services across the Borough within and outside normal working hours.  There was also sufficient provision for advanced services to meet residents’ needs and sufficient provision of other NHS services.  There was potential for demand for some of the services to outstrip supply in the future.  This prospect was potentially being mitigated by the availability of such services being provided by other providers.

·       There would be a statutory consultation period running from 10 June to 9 August.  The final PNA would be published on 1 October, following sign off from the Board.

·       In response to a question from Councillor Bray, Ashlee Muhlimbastated that if there was a major change to the population or housing levels during the lifetime of the PNA that had been unforeseen, the Board could opt to revise the PNA earlier or add an appendix to it.

·       Councillor Margetts commented that very few pharmacies had signed up to offer Covid vaccinations.  Ingrid Slade explained that any pharmacy could have applied to provide this service but only two had done so.  Councillor Bray added that some pharmacies had been advertised online as being bookable vaccination centres when this had not been the case.  It was noted that the quality of services provided was governed by the commissioners.  However, it was felt that the consultation period could be used to help also gain an idea of residents’ experiences of local pharmacy services. 

·       Councillor Hare questioned whether any data was yet available on the stop smoking service in pharmacies for patients who had started their stop smoking journey in hospital, and was informed that there was not yet as it was a new service.

RESOLVED:  That the Wokingham Borough Wellbeing Board:

1)    Approves the draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) to be taken to the statutory 60-day consultation from Friday 10/06/2022 to Tuesday 09/08/2022;

2)    Comments on the draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment;

3)    Considers the conclusions of the PNA relating to sufficiency of current and future service provision within pharmacies and access to these services, and decide whether the Health and Wellbeing Board members agree with the conclusions.

4)    notes the next steps in the development of the PNA leading to its publication on 1^st October 2022.