Introduction

Pharmacies play a key role in providing quality healthcare, providing a wide range of health advice, information and treatment. Pharmacists are trained to help people treat themselves for many common conditions, such as colds, stomach bugs and aches and pains, which can be especially common in winter months. Many pharmacies offer flu and travel vaccinations to customers for a fee, and also provide flu vaccinations for people eligible to get them free on the NHS. A pharmacy can provide an important first point of contact for people within their community, offering advice, public health information, access to medicines and providing signposting into other services.

Since 2013 every Health and Wellbeing Board in England has had a statutory responsibility to publish a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA). This assessment supports the commissioning of pharmacy services based on local priorities. It's a tool that may also be used by NHS England to decide whether there is a need for new pharmacies in an area.

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments (PNA) are used to keep an up to date record of local pharmaceutical services (including community pharmacies, dispensing doctors and appliance contractors). The needs assessment can identify any unmet needs and suggest how gaps can be addressed. The process enables local decision makers to best target available funding and resources and shape the future of service provision.

Shropshire’s draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment includes information on:

• Pharmacies in Shropshire and the essential services they provide, including dispensing, advise on health, collection of waste medicines and supporting public health campaigns
• Other pharmaceutical services such as dispensing practices and appliance contractors
• Maps illustrating the location of providers and how they meet the needs of the rural population of our county
• Potential gaps in provision and how those could be addressed

Shropshire residents and organisations are encouraged to provide feedback on experience of using pharmacy services, to help shape the future of pharmacy services in the county.

The Executive Summary attached briefly summarises the main points and is also included within the full document on pages 3 and 4.

The public consultation will run from 2 August to midnight on 30 September.

Documents

• Shropshire Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2022.pdf
• Executive Summary Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2022.pdf

A printable copy of the survey can be downloaded here if you prefer.

If you would like the survey in an alternative format, please use the email below to request a copy or telephone Shropshire Council’s Customer Services on 0345 678 9000 and explain any support you need to allow you to respond.

You can also respond to this consultation in writing:

Email: TellUs@shropshire.gov.uk

Post: Feedback and Insight Team, Shropshire Council, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shropshire SY2 6ND.