Agenda item - Brighton & Hove Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2025

Report of the Director of Public Health (copy attached).

7.1      This item was introduced by Katy Harker, Consultant in Public Health. Also attending were Julia Powell, Chief Executive Officer, Community Pharmacy Surrey & Sussex; Katie Perkins, Senior Commissioning Manager – Pharmacy and Optometry, ICB; and Rita Shah, Senior Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist (Brighton and Hove).

7.2      Ms Harker outlined to the Board the process for developing a local pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA). She noted that the draft Brighton & Hove PNA has not found areas of the city that are significantly underserved by pharmacies.

7.3      In response to a question from Stephen Lightfoot on how local pharmacy opening times compare with national averages, Ms Harker agreed to provide additional information in writing.

7.4      Stephen Lightfoot asked what more can be done to increase uptake of ‘Pharmacy First’. Ms Powell replied that Sussex use is around the national average, although national uptake is not high. The key to raising uptake is to increase public awareness of what is on offer. There is work ongoing to develop communications to publicise Pharmacy First, working jointly with the city council and liaising with local Integrated Community Teams.

7.5      In response to a question from Tom Lambert as to how local CVS organisations could engage with the pharmacy forum, Ms Harker offered to invite him to a forthcoming meeting.

7.6      Alan Boyd told the Board that he supported the aspiration for community pharmacies to be one of the ways in which people could be diverted from unnecessary attendance at A&E. However, he questioned whether this was compatible with city pharmacies having limited opening hours at weekends and out of hours. Ms Harker acknowledged that limited opening hours will impact on the effectiveness of pharmacies as an alternative to A&E. Unfortunately, it is very expensive to subsidise pharmacies to open out of hours. This is something that is used to guarantee some level of service on Christmas Day and there is the potential to review if necessary.

7.7      In response to a question from Mr Boyd on the work undertaken to reach all city communities with the PNA consultation, Ms Harker assured Board members that extensive steps had been taken, including making hard copies of the public engagement survey to the digitally excluded and attending a number of community group meetings and then a further 60-day consultation period.

7.8      RESOLVED – that the report be noted.