Agenda item

Purpose: To provide details of changes to pharmaceutical services in West Berkshire and advise the Health and Wellbeing Board on the implications for the West Berkshire Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment.

April Peberdy (Interim Service Director – Communities and Wellbeing) presented the item on Changes to Pharmaceutical Services (Agenda Item 12).

It was highlighted that a number of pharmacies had closed in Newbury and concern was expressed about the potential for further closures.

It was noted that some of the remaining pharmacies did not have parking nearby, so could be difficult for some people to access. The situation was compared to the widespread closure of banks.

The Board welcomed the proposal for a survey of waiting times at local pharmacies.

It was noted that pharmacies had also closed in Thatcham, which could add to pressures on remaining pharmacies in Newbury.

Members wondered if a solution similar to Amazon lockers might be used to improve access to medication within particular communities. It was noted that the Downlands Surgery in Chieveley was looking at this model.

Members indicated that residents had reported queuing for up to an hour to get prescriptions at pharmacies across the district.

It was highlighted that online services would not meet the needs of some pharmacy users who needed to have in-depth discussions with pharmacists.

The Board also noted that the NHS was looking to encourage people to make better use of pharmacies, but this relied on pharmacies being available within communities.

The Board felt that the closures were as a result of market failure and the market was not meeting the needs of customers, particularly older people who were less mobile and / or living in rural areas. It was suggested that the NHS needed to intervene.

It was also suggested that patients needed to have options if the role of pharmacies in delivering primary care was to be realised. It was noted that Boots had announced that it would be closing 300 of its stores.

It was suggested that a more effective form of needs assessment was required and that this should take place at a system level.

It was noted that fewer community pharmacies would increase pressure on GP surgeries when delivering vaccinations.

It was confirmed that the ICB was happy with the proposal to prepare a report on the resilience of pharmacies across West Berkshire. Timescales would depend on the scope of the report. It was suggested that the report should also consider matters such as the current ask of pharmacies in terms of primary care access.

Action: Helen Clark to confirm the timescale for producing the report.

RESOLVED:

(a)           To note the changes to pharmaceutical services in West Berkshire;

(b)           To note that the changes have been assessed as not having a significant impact on provision of pharmaceutical services and agree that there is no requirement to update the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment or publish a supplementary statement.

(c)           To agree that the Integrated Care Board (ICB) be requested to prepare a report on the resilience of pharmacies across West Berkshire; and

(d)           To agree that Healthwatch be approached to see if they would perform a survey of waiting times at pharmacies across West Berkshire.