Agenda item - Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment

RESVOLVED:

That the Health & Wellbeing Board:

1)         Agrees that the following representation should be made to NHS England:

The Board requests that NHS England ensures that the proposed consolidation of two pharmacies (Paydens Ltd trading as Ashtons Pharmacy, 98 Dyke Road, Brighton, BN1 3JD and Canterbury Pharmacies Ltd, trading as Watt& Co Chemist, 110 Dyke Road, Brighton, BN1 3TE) does not create a gap in pharmaceutical services; the Board would like assurance regarding the space available and if this is sufficient for the demand required by patients, details regarding the number of pharmacists available to provide services in the consolidated pharmacy in comparison to across both sites when open and whether the time to prepare and provide prescriptions will be increased.

2)         If answers to the above issues are that that the consolidation of the pharmacy will not reduce service provision, the Board seeks assurances that the proposed consolidation of the two pharmacies would not create a gap in pharmaceutical services that could be met by a routine application to meet a current or future need for pharmaceutical services, secure improvements, or better access, to pharmaceutical services.

3)         Recommends to the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee delegating authority to the Director of Public Health in liaison with the Chair of the HWB and the PNA Steering Group for sending representations to NHS England, if a request for a consolidation of a pharmacy happens within 45 days when the Health & Wellbeing Board is not meeting.

23.1    Officers introduced the report which was a response to a proposal to close a pharmacy and merge its service with another larger pharmacy which was located on the same street.

23.2    The Executive Lead Officer, Strategy, Governance & Law proposed a motion to amend recommendation 1.3 as shown in bold italics below:

1.3    The Board approves Recommends to the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee delegating authority to the Director of Public Health in liaison with the Chair of the HWB and the PNA Steering Group for sending representations to NHS England, if a request for a consolidation of a pharmacy happens within 45 days when the Health & Wellbeing Board is not meeting.”

23.3   Explaining the purpose of the officer amendment, the Executive Lead Officer, Strategy, Governance & Law stated the change to the recommendation was necessary as the constitution did not allow for the Board to make a permanent change to the scheme of officer delegations and this would have to be approved by Policy, Resources & Growth Committee.

23.3    Councillor Page stated that he was reassured that the consolidated pharmacy would be retaining the late night provision.

23.4    Councillor Taylor stated that he had no concerns about the closure addressed by the report but asked what work officers were doing to monitor pharmacy provision in the city to ensure that any the Council and CCG.

23.5    Officers stated that any changes to pharmacy provision are reported on a quarterly basis by NHS England to the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment Steering Group. Changes are mapped to give a clear picture of provision in the city and to show where there is any possible under or over provision.

23.6    The Chair called a vote; the Board agreed to amend recommendation 1.3 as proposed and agreed to the substantive recommendations as amended.

23.7    RESVOLVED:

That the Health & Wellbeing Board:

1)         Agrees that the following representation should be made to NHS England:

The Board requests that NHS England ensures that the proposed consolidation of two pharmacies (Paydens Ltd trading as Ashtons Pharmacy, 98 Dyke Road, Brighton, BN1 3JD and Canterbury Pharmacies Ltd, trading as Watt& Co Chemist, 110 Dyke Road, Brighton, BN1 3TE) does not create a gap in pharmaceutical services; the Board would like assurance regarding the space available and if this is sufficient for the demand required by patients, details regarding the number of pharmacists available to provide services in the consolidated pharmacy in comparison to across both sites when open and whether the time to prepare and provide prescriptions will be increased.

2)         If answers to the above issues are that that the consolidation of the pharmacy will not reduce service provision, the Board seeks assurances that the proposed consolidation of the two pharmacies would not create a gap in pharmaceutical services that could be met by a routine application to meet a current or future need for pharmaceutical services, secure improvements, or better access, to pharmaceutical services.

3)         Recommends to the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee delegating authority to the Director of Public Health in liaison with the Chair of the HWB and the PNA Steering Group for sending representations to NHS England, if a request for a consolidation of a pharmacy happens within 45 days when the Health & Wellbeing Board is not meeting.