Pharmacy closures – do you need to refresh your pharmaceutical needs assessment?

Nationally, hundreds of pharmacies have closed; others, some of which were previously required to be open for 100 hours per week, have reduced their opening hours on weekday evenings and/or at the weekend.  This is affecting the ability of integrated care systems to ensure delivery of services such as pharmacy provision to support out of hours medical services, and reducing the impact that the new Pharmacy First service may have to support improvements to primary care access. We are aware that some health and wellbeing boards have identified a need to start the process of producing their next pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) sooner than they may otherwise have planned and have started to discuss with the relevant integrated care board(s). If you would like support to consider the implications of the continued closure of pharmacies and/or the loss of opening hours or to produce your next PNA contact enquiries@pcc-cic.org.uk.