The government requires all Health and Wellbeing Boards to produce an assessment of pharmaceutical service in its area every three years, under the NHS. The next assessment is due by the end of the September 2022. This document is called the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA).
The PNA is a report of the present needs for pharmaceutical services. It is used to identify any gaps in current services or improvements that could be made in future pharmaceutical service provision.
What are pharmaceutical services?
Pharmaceutical services are one of the many services currently provided under the NHS by community pharmacies and include:
- dispensing of medicines and appliances on prescription
- sale of medicines to the public
- providing advice to the public on medicines, coping with ill health or general health and well-being
- receiving waste medicines for safe destruction
Some pharmaceutical services may be provided by dispensing GP practices or dispensing appliance contractors. There are seven dispensing GP practices in Bedford Borough.
Who will use the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment?
The PNA will be used by NHS England, Bedford Borough Council, and the Clinical Commissioning Group in Bedford Borough to make decisions when applications for new pharmacies are received, and for the commissioning of other services that could be delivered by community pharmacies and other providers.
Who are we consulting and why?
We are required to consult with any patient, consumer or community group in the borough who has an interest in the provision of pharmaceutical services.
It is assumed that everyone living in Bedford Borough may require services provided by community pharmacies and appliance contractors. We are therefore consulting with the entire resident population of Bedford Borough and welcome the views from anyone living in Bedford Borough or anyone providing pharmaceutical services in Bedford Borough.
Have your say
The consultation will take place from Wednesday 1 June to Sunday 31 July 2022.
Please read the related documents:
Tell us what you think by completing the online survey:
Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment survey
If you are unable to complete the PNA survey online you can complete this PDF version of the Bedford Borough Draft PNA Consultation Survey
Paper and easy read copies of the questionnaires are also available from the Public Health team by emailing: public.health@milton-keynes.gov.uk
What happens next?
Your comments will inform the final Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment which will be produced by 1 October 2022.
