Issue - meetings

The Director of Public Health, presented a report which provided members of the Board with a briefing on the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) which included risks associated with it and proposed local governance arrangements.

Every Health and Wellbeing Board in England had a statutory responsibility to publish and keep an up-to-date statement of needs for pharmaceutical services of its local population. This was referred to as a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) and included dispensing services as well as public health and other services that pharmacies may be commissioned to provide. 

          The report set out the commissioning arrangements; proposed arrangements for producing Halton’s next PNA; and the resources required.

          The report also outlined the next steps which would be undertaken by a steering group.  It was noted that once a final draft document had been completed, a 60 day statutory consultation would be undertaken and the results would be reported to the Board before its publication on 1 October 2025. 

RESOLVED:  That the Board:

1)    note the contents of the report;

2)    agreed that the Director of Public Health be the lead; and

3)    agreed that the PNA be managed by a local steering group, led by Public Health.