18^th March 2022

North Yorkshire Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment –

Briefing Paper

Report of the Director of Public Health

1.         Introduction

The purpose of the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) is to consider the current and future need for pharmaceutical services in a geographical area, and to describe to what extent current pharmaceutical services meet that need.  Used by NHS England to assess whether there is a need to make changes to or open/close pharmacies, the current PNA full update is due on 1st October 2022.

2          Background

· Public Health Leadership Team meeting 9^th June 2021 - decision made to commission all of the PNA work to an external organisation.

· Public Health Leadership Team meeting 8^th September 2021 - agreement given for a joined up commissioning approach with City of York (CYC), with CYC taking the lead on procurement.

· Budget set at an estimated £50,000 for North Yorkshire.  A separate PNA document to be produced for each footprint.

3.         Update on commissioning

· Discussions with legal and finance teams, working up of detailed specification/contract took place October to December 2021.

· Opportunity advertised in January/February 2022 through YORtender portal with opportunity also flagged with all Commissioning Support Units (CSUs).

· One tender received from the North of England Commissioning Support (NECS).  It scored very highly and more than met the criteria set out – also well under estimated budget at £33,718.

· CYC are formalising working arrangements with NECS week beginning 7^th March 2022 and work is due to commence from 14^th March 2022.

4.         Update on community engagement

· Three separate surveys (residents, pharmacies and stakeholder/providers) developed alongside commissioning process.

· Surveys signed off by PNA Steering Group in January went live mid February (closing 28^th March 2022).

· Communications developed to encourage participation in the survey - includes use of press, radio, social media, engagement of a wide range of networks such as the Older People’s Forum and North Yorkshire Health Action Group.

· Direct contact made with all pharmacies, GPs and Dentists, along with Parish and Town Councils and library services.

· Surveys are available online - easy read and paper copies are available on request.

· Posters and leaflets promoting the surveys have been developed, printed and sent out to Pharmacies, GPs and Dentists for displaying in waiting rooms/reception areas.

Links to surveys:-

https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/pharmaceutical-needs-assessment-pharmacies-and-stakeholders

https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/pharmaceutical-needs-assessment-residents

Report Authors:

Clare Beard (Consultant), Claire Lawrence (Health Improvement Officer)