Have your say on pharmaceutical services in our area
Consultation closed: Sunday, 7 August 2022
Consultation opened: Wednesday, 8 June 2022
What is a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA)?
It is a report on what pharmaceutical services people in Central Bedfordshire need and whether there are any gaps in what is being provided by community pharmacies and other services under the NHS.
Central Bedfordshire Health and Wellbeing Board, which we host, assesses pharmaceutical services in our area every 3 years and the next report is this year.
This consultation follows a survey that was run in late 2021, which was used to shape this pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) consultation. If you took part in the previous survey, we would still like to hear from you during this consultation phase.
What are pharmaceutical services?
Pharmaceutical services are one of the many services currently provided under the NHS by community pharmacies and include:
- dispensing medicines and appliances on prescription
- sale of medicines
- providing advice on medicines, coping with ill health or general health and wellbeing
- receiving waste medicines for safe destruction
Some pharmaceutical services may be provided by dispensing GP practices or dispensing appliance contractors.
Who will use the pharmaceutical needs assessment?
The PNA will be used by NHS England, us and the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Clinical Commissioning Group to help decide on applications for new pharmacies and for commissioning other services that could be delivered by community pharmacies and other providers.
Who we consulted and why?
As everyone living in Central Bedfordshire may require services provided by community pharmacies and appliance contractors, we welcomed views from anyone living in Central Bedfordshire or anyone providing pharmaceutical services in Central Bedfordshire. Your comments will inform the final pharmaceutical needs assessment which will be produced by 1 October 2022.
When did the consultation take place?
The consultation opened on Wednesday 8 June 2022 and closed on Sunday 7 August 2022.
For supporting information, please: