The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) is a statutory document that assesses the pharmacy needs of the local population. This includes dispensing services as well as public health and other services that pharmacies may provide.
The document is used as the framework for commissioning pharmacy services in a defined area.
The NHS (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013, effective from 1 April 2013, require each HWB to:
- Publish a PNA every three years
- Make a revised assessment as soon as is reasonably practicable after identifying changes to the need for pharmaceutical services which are of a significant extent.
NHS England teams are mandated under the same regulations to use the PNA when making decisions on applications to open new pharmacies and dispensing appliance contractor premises.
Public health teams, the local NHS and other key partners across the city's health and care system will also use the PNA to inform their commissioning decisions, when commissioning local services from community pharmacies.
Robust, up-to-date evidence is important to ensure that community pharmacy services are provided in the right place and meet the needs of the communities they serve.
A new PNA has been produced on behalf of the Health and Wellbeing Board, and covers the period 2022-2025