Pharmaceutical needs assessment
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The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) is a key commissioning tool for NHS England, Local Authority and Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG). The PNA includes pharmaceutical services and other services that may be delivered through community pharmacy. The PNA maps current provision, assesses local need, and identifies any gaps in provision. It is reviewed every 3 years.
To support the provision of up to date evidence, Healthwatch Walsall was asked to engage with people to ascertain their views on how community pharmacies meet their needs. Healthwatch Walsall developed a simple survey to capture local people’s views and experiences of using pharmacy services. This was made available online and hard copy paper surveys were made available at local pharmacies. The survey gathered response from 142 members of the public.
Key findings:
- Local pharmacies are important to members of the public with the majority of people visiting their local pharmacy on a monthly basis.
- The public value advice and information available from pharmacists.
- Travel time and access is also an important factor when visiting a pharmacy.
- The main reason for using a pharmacy is to collect prescribed medication.
- The majority (80%) of respondents indicate they have not changed the way they use their pharmacy since the Pandemic.
Recommendations:
- To ensure that patients and users of pharmacies continue to have choice of pharmacies locally and that pharmacies continue to be flexible in their opening hours, wherever possible to include some weekend opening times. If this is not possible, then to provide patients with information of locally available pharmacies during out of hours.
- Pharmacies to ensure they have sufficient medication available to meet the needs of people on repeat prescriptions, in order that there are no delays in treatment.
- More pharmacies to offer delivery services for medication.
- Dossett box/blister packs are made available wherever possible.
- Information is provided to patients about any change of medication brand/colouring to avoid confusion.
- Promote additional services offered by pharmacies.