Agenda item

(To receive a report from Chris Weston, Public Health Consultant, which invites the Committee to receive the project plan timelines from the 'Lincolnshire Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment Steering Group' and to initiate a working group to comment on the draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment during the 60-day public consultation)  

Consideration was given to a report from Chris Weston, Public Health Consultant, which asked the Committee to consider the project plan timelines from the 'Lincolnshire Pharmaceutical Needs Steering Group' on the production of the 2018 Lincolnshire Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA).  The report also asked if the Committee wished to initiate a working group to comment on the draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment during the 60-day public consultation.

In guiding the Committee through the report presented, the Committee was advised that the Health and Social Care Act 2012 had transferred responsibility for developing and updating PNAs to Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWB).  It was noted that the first PNA had been completed on behalf of Lincolnshire HWB and had been submitted to NHS England by the 1 April 2015, and the next PNA was due to be submitted to NHS England by 1 April 2018.

Appendix A to the report provided the Project Plan for Lincolnshire 2018 PNA for the Committee's consideration.

It was reported that a public questionnaire had been produced by the PNA Steering Group to seek views and comments on current pharmaceutical service provision.  A total of 1145 responses had been received from all age groups above the age of 16 years.  A summary of the responses received was detailed in Appendix B to the report presented.  The Committee was advised that the next stage of the process was a 60-day mandatory consultation on the findings of the draft PNA, which would be approved by the Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board at their 5 December 2017 meeting.  The Committee was advised further that the planned dates for the consultation were from 11 December 2017 to 11 February 2018.  The results of the consultation would then be considered by the Steering Group at its meeting on 27 February 2018.  A final PNA would then be produced with a recommendation for the Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board to publish, at its meeting on 27 March 2018.  It was noted that the final PNA had to be published no later than 31 March 2018.

It was highlighted that regulations listed a range of stakeholders who needed to be consulted.  The Health Scrutiny Committee was invited therefore to initiate a working group during the consultation period to feed into the consultation of the draft PNA.

The Committee was also advised that Regulation 9 of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations required that Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies, when carrying out assessments for the purpose of PNAs, had to have regard to:-

·         The number of people in its area who require pharmaceutical services;

·         The demography of its area; and

·         The risks to the health or wellbeing of people in its area.

A short discussion ensued from which the following points were raised:-

·         One member enquired in accordance with Regulation 9, whether the issue of Pharmacists being open seven days a week along the coast had been taken on board as part of the Strategy.  Confirmation was given that this issue had been taken into consideration;

·         A request was made for a further breakdown of information contained in Appendix B to show demographical areas and age groups.  The Public Health Consultant agreed to circulate this information to members of the Committee;

·         Page 56 – Question 13 – A concern was expressed regarding the disposal of needles and to the fact that due consideration needed to be taken regarding disposal in pharmacies;

·         A question was asked as to how the PNA took account of proposed housing developments, which would lead to an increase in demand for pharmacy services in a particular area.  The Committee was advised that information was obtained from all district councils on potential housing developments over the next 20 to 30 years, however, there was a slight mismatch between the three-year planning cycle of a PNA and housing development plans which could be up to thirty years in length;

·         Whether the PNA took into account the physical capacity (storage and patient consultation) of an existing pharmacy or pharmacies, in cases of increased demand.  The Committee was advised that it would;

·         A request was made for a map showing the location of Pharmacies across the county.  The Public Health Consultant advised that this would be included in the PNA, which would be made available to members of the Committee;

·         A question was asked as to whether funding changes to pharmacists would have any effect on the PNA.  The Committee was advised that as yet, no details of the funding change had been published by the Department of Health.  It was highlighted that as the PNA was a living document, and that the steering group met on a regular basis; any changes in need would be regularly monitored;

·         A concern was raised regarding the presentation of the data on page 58, question 17.  Officers agreed to look into this matter;

·         Opening times – One member highlighted that there was a need to ensure that pharmacies in a location needed to make provision to stagger their opening times; and

·         Page 56, question 13 reference to needle exchange.  Some members felt that this was a service that needed to be included as a service being provided by a local pharmacy.

An invitation was extended to the members of Committee to participate in a working group to draft a response to the consultation on the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment.  The following members indicated that they wished to participate in the working group: - Councillors C J T H Brewis, J Kirk, C S Macey, and either R B Parker or R A Renshaw.

The Healthwatch representative advised that Healthwatch would be responding to the consultation; but confirmation would be sought as to whether Healthwatch would be responding separately, or whether comments would be included in the response from the Committee.

RESOLVED

1.    That the process to produce a revised Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) by 1 April 2018 be noted and that the comments raised by members of the Committee be considered by officers.

2.    That the project plan timelines from the 'Lincolnshire Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment Steering Group' on the production of the 2018 Lincolnshire Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment be received.

3.    That a working group be set up to draft a response to the consultation on the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, comprising of the following Councillors C J T H Brewis, J Kirk, C S Macey, and either R B Parker or R A Renshaw.