Agenda item - Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment

Report of the Director of Public Health (copy attached)

RESOLVED – that the Board notes the draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment.

6.1       This item was introduced by Nicola Rosenberg, Consultant in Public Health. Ms Rosenberg told the Board that public satisfaction with local pharmacies is high, and that pharmacies are relatively well-spread across the city, with all residents within 20 minutes of a pharmacy. Although some areas are less well provided for than others, there is no gap in provision requiring an additional pharmacy to be established. However, not all pharmacies provide a full range of services; and there are issues with evening and weekend opening, with limited access across the city. The draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) has recommendations to address these issues.

6.2       Ms Rosenberg noted that the final PNA needs to be submitted by 01 October 2022. A special meeting of the HWB will be called in September to agree the final draft . Board members will also be asked to comment on the West Sussex and East Sussex PNAs, and these will be circulated to members outside the meeting.

6.3       The Chair noted that the report was comprehensive. She also queried how well additional pharmaceutical services were advertised in chemists and whether the links between pharmacies and GP practices were as robust as they could be. Ms Rosenberg agreed that both were valid points; the draft PNA recommendations include measures to improve public awareness of additional services provided by city pharmacies and to strengthen links with GP practices.

6.4       Cllr Appich noted that some pharmacies had seen reduced funding, and that taking on additional services would presumably help make up any shortfall. Ms Rosenberg agreed that payment for additional services could help pharmacies maintain their profits, although they do have to be mindful of their capacity to deliver additional services.

6.5       Cllr Appich told members that she was especially concerned about the impact on women of restricted evening and weekend opening, particularly in terms of being able to access emergency contraception. Ms Rosenberg agreed that this was a concern and she would ensure that this was emphasised in the final draft.

6.6       Cllr Appich also noted that she would like to see pharmacies do more to promote healthy living and that she was happy to see the increased availability of hepatitis C testing in pharmacies. Ms Rosenberg agreed with encouraging the promotion of healthy living and said that this would receive more emphasis in the final draft. With regard to hepatitis C testing, there was more work to do in the city.

6.7       Cllr Appich noted that there is substantial housing being built in the city, particularly around Hove Station, and there may be an impact here on pharmacy capacity. Ms Rosenberg responded that the full draft PNA details new housing developments, and that there has been engagement with pharmacies sited near new developments to check that they are confident managing increased demand, with almost all pharmacies currently expressing confidence.

6.8       Cllr Hugh-Jones asked how resilient local pharmacies were. Ms Rosenberg responded that there were 60 city pharmacies in 2015, 56 in 2018 and 53 in 2022. There is a decline, which is mirrored in other parts of the country. However, the decline is not precipitate which suggests that the market is fairly resilient.

6.9       Cllr Hugh-Jones noted that three of the most deprived areas of the city had no pharmacy. Ms Rosenberg agreed that this was a concern; the local health system needs to think about the under-provision of a range of health services in the most deprived parts of the city and the conglomerative impact this may have.

6.10    In response to queries from Cllr Hugh-Jones, Ms Rosenberg agreed to amend the draft report to include the dates of the user survey and more information on how additional evening and weekend opening hours will be advertised.

6.11    Cllr Robins pointed out that the car ownership data cited in the report may be misleading as the actual level of ownership varies considerably between the city centre and the suburbs, making citywide averages of little use. Ms Rosenberg agreed to address this issue in the final draft.

6.12    In response to a query from Cllr Robins about the use of jargon and acronyms in the report, Ms Rosenberg noted that the PNA report had to be written to a closely prescribed format, requiring a  good deal of technical information which required to use of the appropriate terminology. The final draft would be as accessible as possible within these significant restrictions.

6.13    Cllr Robins noted that a pharmacy had previously been sited at West Hove Sainsburys, but had subsequently closed. This location had been very convenient as the supermarket is easily accessible and opens late. Ms Rosenberg agreed that this could be suggested as a potential location for any new pharmacy.

6.14    The Chair asked whether there was a shortage of pharmacists in the city. Ms Rosenberg responded that this was not easy to quantify as the PNA measures pharmacies rather than individual pharmacists. However, since a number of services can only be delivered by a qualified pharmacist, this is a valid point.

6.15    Cllr Bagaeen noted that a disappointingly low number of city GPs responded to the PNA consultation . Ms Rosenberg agreed, noting that the PNA includes recommendations to strengthen links with GPs.

6.16    Cllr Bagaeen asked whether the draft PNA had taken account of recently published census date. Ms Rosenberg responded that it did not, but that the census data will be used to inform the final PNA. Rob Persey noted that the accuracy of the 2021 census is questionable, given that it was undertaken when Covid restrictions were in place which may have resulted in a large number of city residents, particularly younger people, temporarily living elsewhere.

6.17    RESOLVED – that the Board notes the draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment.