Report to:                

East Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board            

Date: 

29th September 2022

By:

Director of Public Health

 

Title of report:

East Sussex Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2022

 

Purpose of report:

To present the 2022 East Sussex Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment to the Health and Wellbeing Board for approval, and agreement for it to be published, as required by the NHS (Pharmaceutical and Pharmaceutical Services) 2013 Regulations.

RECOMMENDATION

East Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board is recommended to:

1)    approve the 2022 East Sussex Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment attached as Appendix 1; and

2)    agree to the publication of the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment.

1             Background

 

1.1          As from 1 April 2013 every Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) in England has a statutory responsibility to publish and keep up to date a statement of the need for pharmaceutical services in its area, otherwise referred to as a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA). HWBs had to publish their first PNA by April 1st 2015.

1.2          The PNA is a key document used in the development and improvement of pharmaceutical services in East Sussex. NHS England is expected to make reference to the PNA when making decisions about Market Entry for new service providers, as well as in the commissioning of pharmaceutical services, which include advanced and enhanced services from pharmacies.

1.3          Normally a PNA is required every three years, but this was extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a PNA expected to be in place by October 2022.

1.4          HWBs are required to publish a revised PNA report sooner if significant changes are identified in the meantime about the availability of pharmaceutical services since the publication of the last PNA. This is unless the Board is satisfied that making a whole revised assessment would be a disproportionate response to these changes.

1.5          Pending the publication of a revised PNA, Supplementary Statements may be added. Supplementary Statements are a way of updating what the PNA says about which services are provided and where. They explain changes to the availability of pharmaceutical services since the publication of the existing PNA and then become part of the PNA (Regulation 3D (3)).

1.6          A Supplementary Statement is issued where:

a) the changes are relevant to the granting of Market Entry applications but a revised assessment would be a disproportionate response to those changes, or,

            b) in the course of producing a revised PNA, immediate modification of the current PNA is essential in order to prevent significant detriment to the provision of pharmaceutical services in its area.

 

1.7          The Public Health Department leads the process and produces the PNA on behalf of the HWB. The first PNA was agreed by the Board in July 2014 and subsequently published on the East Sussex Joint Strategic Needs and Assets Assessment website.

1.8          The process for developing the revised PNA has been completed, after complying with all the Regulations associated with the production. The PNA is now brought to the HWB for approval.

 

2             Supporting information

2.1          The main aim of the East Sussex PNA 2022 (Appendix 1) is to describe the current pharmaceutical services in East Sussex, systematically identify any gaps/unmet needs and, in consultation with stakeholders, make recommendations on future development.

2.2          The 2022 East Sussex PNA process began in July 2021 and has involved reviewing and analysing East Sussex’s demographic details, health needs, current pharmaceutical service provision, as well as consulting the public and other stakeholders through surveys.

2.3          A public consultation of the PNA document was undertaken between June and July 2022 as required by the NHS 2013, Regulation 8. Views from the public, community pharmacy contractors, dispensing GP practices, neighbouring Health and Wellbeing Boards and other stakeholders were sought and used in drafting the final report.

 

Content of the Report

 

2.4          The document has 12 sections, an executive summary, and includes six Appendices and a glossary.

 

Section 1 is an introduction to what is meant by Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment [PNA].

Section 2 describes the processes followed in developing the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment.

Section 3 explains the strategic context of health and social care integration, with changes in primary care and changing roles of community pharmacy.

Section 4 describes the population [demography] of East Sussex and expected changes in the size of the population between 2022-25.

Section 5 covers the health and social care needs of the population and in each locality [local authority] and identifies population subgroups with additional needs.

Section 6 describes current pharmacy and GP dispensing service provision in East Sussex.

Section 7 describes the findings from the East Sussex residents’ survey in January 2022.

Sections 8 and 9 describe the community pharmacy and GP dispensary surveys in

January 2022.

Section 10 describes the gap analysis for each district/borough council area: Eastbourne; Hastings; Lewes; Rother and Wealden.

Section 11 describes the stakeholder consultation from June to July 2022 and ESCC response to the issues raised.

Section 12 has overall conclusions about current services and future roles of pharmacies in East Sussex.

 

 

 

 

Key PNA Findings

 

2.5          As at January 2022, the East Sussex rate of pharmacy provision was 17.6 per 100,000 in East Sussex [excluding the GP dispensaries]. This crude, unadjusted rate is lower than the England rate of provision 19.0 per 100,000, although similar to neighbouring local authorities.

2.6          There are 99 community pharmacies and 16 GP dispensaries in East Sussex. Of the 99 community pharmacies, 91 have contracts for 40 hours of opening, while eight have 100-hour contracts. In addition, there are also three distance selling [internet] pharmacies located in East Sussex.

2.7          Trends in the number of pharmacies have shown a gradual reduction at national and regional level since the last PNA in 2017.

2.8          The provision of essential pharmaceutical services in East Sussex, based on the above rate per 100,000 in East Sussex, and in each local authority, appears to be satisfactory. Detailed travel times analyses (distance to nearest pharmacy/dispensing practice) and local surveys of pharmacy providers and dispensaries were undertaken.

2.9          The public consultation on the 2022 PNA report indicates that the purpose of the PNA report is well understood among stakeholders. It is a good reflection of the current health needs and pharmaceutical services to meet those needs in East Sussex, and is sufficient in informing future NHS market entry decisions and commissioning future service provision.

Summary of PNA Recommendations

·         The PNA has not identified gaps in essential services in East Sussex

·         Improving current choice of essential dispensing services in the evenings and weekends could be achieved by consideration of commissioning an extended hours service from existing providers on a rota basis, particularly in Lewes, Rother and Wealden council areas

·         The Discharge Medicines Service needs to be promoted within NHS Trusts and closely monitored by commissioners

·         If there were to be an increase in contracted GP surgery hours to 8pm on weekdays and to Saturday afternoons following the publication of the PNA, then there may be a need for commissioners to consider commissioning an extended hours service from existing providers

·         Better access to necessary services in evenings and at weekends could also be enabled by improvements in public transport in rural East Sussex

·         Current plans for housing developments locally would not require a new pharmacy

·         We recommend that Districts and Boroughs clearly communicate to residents the location of existing disabled parking

 

3             Conclusion and Reason for Recommendation

 

3.1          The Health and Wellbeing Board is required by the NHS (Pharmaceutical and Pharmaceutical Services) 2013 Regulations to publish and keep up to date a statement of the need for pharmaceutical services in its area.

3.2          The due process for developing the revised PNA has been completed and all the regulations associated with its production have been followed.

3.3          The Health and Wellbeing Board is recommended to approve the 2022 East Sussex PNA and to agree to its publication.

Darrell Gale

Director of Public Health

 

 

Contact officer:  Nicholas Kendall, Public Health Practitioner

Tel No. 01273 336 079; Mobile:07523 930873

Nick.Kendall@eastsussex.gov.uk