Havering residents have adequate access to essential pharmaceutical services, but more needs to be done to address gaps in advice commissioned by the Integrated Care Board (ICB). This was the conclusion of the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) presented at the Havering Health & Wellbeing Board meeting on Wednesday.
Mark Ansell, Director of Public Health, suggested that the PNA may need to be refreshed before its deadline due to the NHS 10 Year Plan and the pace at which things will be delivered. He also expressed concern that the relationship with the lead commissioner is quite distant
and questioned whether the lead commissioner has fully understood the PNA and whether it is informing their current plans adequately. The impact of this distant relationship is that the needs assessment sits with the local authority while the lead commissioner shapes things on the ground.
The PNA, which is required by the NHS every three years, assesses pharmaceutical services to identify gaps in service delivery. The draft report, a joint project with Barking and Dagenham, and Redbridge, was presented by Kurt Ramsden, lead consultant from NEX, a commissioning support unit. The consultation will gather views on the accuracy and content, test the assumptions made, and ensure transparency and inclusiveness. The steering group will review all of the responses and update the document based on those responses before confirming with health and wellbeing members for approval prior to the publication date.
The key findings included:
- The closure of two 40-hour pharmacies in Romford since 2022. Kurt Ramsden stated that pharmacy closures are not unusual and
they always are the ones that are the quietest and least financially viable.
- Havering currently has 40 40-hour pharmacies, three 100-hour pharmacies, and one distance-selling pharmacy.
- Adequate provision of essential services for residents remains. The PNA found that there remains adequate provision of essential services for the residents of Havering, suggesting the impact on the community has been limited.
- Havering has 16.6 pharmacies per 100,000 population, compared to the national average of 18.3.
- Most pharmacies are open until 6pm on weekdays, with 18 open until 7pm and four open until 9pm.
- Almost all residents have access to a pharmacy within 30 minutes by public transport after 7pm.
- Eight pharmacies are open on Sundays.
- 82% of respondents to a public questionnaire found their local pharmacy hours convenient.
The PNA found no gaps in the current provision of necessary services during or outside normal working hours, or in the future. It also found no gaps in the provision of advanced, enhanced, or locally commissioned services.
However, Vicki Kong, NHS Clinical Director, raised concerns that the PNA does not cover advice commissioned by the ICB, such as palliative care and end-of-life medicines. The implication is that these services may not be adequately assessed or provided for within the current PNA framework. She also questioned whether the public truly understand services like Pharmacy First, new medicine services, and contraceptive services, and there may be an opportunity to encourage additional provision as well as raising awareness across the borough.
The board agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Public Health to approve the final report once the steering group is satisfied with the consultation outcomes. The consultation is open to the public until 17 August, and can be accessed via the Havering Council website.
