Overview

We are currently consulting on our draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2022. The PNA has been informed by a previous consultation we conducted earlier on in the year with residents and other key stakeholders. The consultation asked for your views on what you think of pharmacy services in Barnet and the findings from the consultation have been used to help inform our draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2022.

What is a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA)? 

A Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) is a report outlining the present needs for pharmaceutical services. It is used to identify any gaps in current services or improvements that could be made in future pharmaceutical service provision.

The government requires all Health and Wellbeing Boards to produce an assessment of the pharmaceutical service in its area every three years, under the NHS. Barnet Council has been delegated responsibility from the Barnet Health and Wellbeing Board to undertake a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment and the council have asked Soar Beyond Ltd to facilitate the process and provide expertise on undertaking the assessment. The next assessment is due by the end of September 2022 and we are currently consulting on the draft PNA which has been produced by Soar Beyond Ltd, and also in collaboration with the the Barnet Health and Wellbeing Board.

What are Pharmaceutical Services?

Pharmaceutical services are one of the many services currently provided under the NHS by community pharmacies and include:

• dispensing of medicines and appliances on prescription
• sale of medicines to the public
• providing advice to the public on medicines, coping with ill health or general health and well being
• receiving waste medicines for safe destruction.

Who will use the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment? 

The PNA will be used by NHS England, Barnet Council, and the Clinical Commissioning Group in the Council to make decisions when applications for new pharmacies are received, and for the commissioning of other services that could be delivered by community pharmacies and other providers.

Who are we consulting and why?

We are required to consult with any patient, consumer or community group in the borough who has an interest in the provision of pharmaceutical services.

It is assumed that everyone living in Barnet may require services provided by community pharmacies and appliance contractors. We are therefore consulting with the entire resident population of Barnet Council and welcome the views from anyone living in Barnet or anyone providing pharmaceutical services in Barnet. Your comments will inform the final Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment which will be produced by 1 October 2022.

How to have your say

Please read the Draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment and Executive Summary and then share your views by completing our Barnet PNA 2022 questionnaire.

Printed copies are also available on request. Should you require a paper copy of the questionnaire to be sent to you please contact: PNA Team at Soar Beyond on Tel: 01442 927 972 or E-mail: info@soarbeyond.co.uk