Agenda item

Shenna Paynter, Public Health Programme Lead to present.

It was agreed that this item would be moved following publication of the agenda from item13 to item 9.

Shenna Paynter, Public Health Specialist, provided a brief overview of the draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment for Bury.

The purpose of the document is a comprehensive assessment of whether current and future pharmaceutical services meet the needs of the local population. Bury’s Health and Wellbeing Board has a statutory responsibility to publish and keep up to date the assessment for Bury. The assessment for Bury presents a picture of community pharmacy need and provision in Bury and links to Bury’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.

It will be used by NHS England & NHS Improvement to:

1. Inform which NHS funded services need to be provided by community pharmacies and dispensing appliance contractors.
2. Decide whether new pharmacies or services are needed.
3. Aid decision making about the relocation of existing pharmaceutical premises in response to applications by providers of pharmaceutical services.
4. Inform the commissioning of locally enhanced services delivered from pharmacies to address any gaps in health care provision.

Councillor Tariq, Chair for the Health and Wellbeing Board highlighted that Pharmacies are viewed differently post the COVID-19 Pandemic. Pharmacies now provide more diagnostic support, such as ‘Care at the Chemist’ and are key in reducing service pressures elsewhere. Members agreed that we should engage with those who use them. Ruth Passman from Healthwatch Bury provided an offer to the Board that she would be happy to support a complimentary engagement campaign that consults with member of the public on experiences. Councillor Pilkington highlighted that nowhere in the PNA was reference to the ‘Care at the Chemist’ scheme.

An in-depth discussion on whether to follow other local areas approaches or go out for public consultation took place.

It was agreed:

1)      The Board agreed to progress the formal consultation on the PNA with compulsory consultees.

2)      To work with Healthwatch to explore opportunities to understand public perceptions and issues with using pharmacies to feed into service improvement and development.

3)      To receive the final PNA following consultation in October.