Overview

Thank you for participating in the consultation on the Norfolk Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2022.

Please read the PNA in full, it is available to view below or to download as a pdf from the 'Related Documents' section at the bottom of this page.

Once this is done, then answer the questionnaire, which starts on the next page.

Why your views matter

What is a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA)?

Norfolk County Council Health and Wellbeing Board is hosted by Norfolk County Council. The government requires all Health and Wellbeing Boards to produce an assessment of pharmaceutical service in its area every three years, under the NHS.  The next assessment is due by the end of the September 2022. This document is called the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA).

Norfolk County Council Health and Wellbeing Board is hosted by Norfolk County Council. The government requires all Health and Wellbeing Boards to produce an assessment of pharmaceutical service in its area every three years, under the NHS.  The next assessment is due by the end of the September 2022. This document is called the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA).  

The PNA is a report of the present needs for pharmaceutical services. It is used to identify any gaps in current services or improvements that could be made in future pharmaceutical service provision. 

What are Pharmaceutical Services?

Pharmaceutical services are one of the many services currently provided under the NHS by community pharmacies and include:

• dispensing of medicines and appliances on prescription
• sale of medicines to the public
• providing advice to the public on medicines, coping with ill health or general health and well being
• receiving waste medicines for safe destruction

Some pharmaceutical services may be provided by dispensing GP practices or dispensing appliance contractors.  There are 55 Dispensing GP Practices and 1 Dispensing Appliance Contractor in Norfolk.

Who will use the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment?

The PNA will be used by NHS England, Norfolk County Council, and the Clinical Commissioning Group in the Council to make decisions when applications for new pharmacies are received, and for the commissioning of other services that could be delivered by community pharmacies and other providers.

Who are we consulting and why?

We are required to consult with any patient, consumer or community group in the county who has an interest in the provision of pharmaceutical services.  

It is assumed that everyone living in Norfolk may require services provided by community pharmacies and appliance contractors. We are therefore consulting with the entire resident population of Norfolk and welcome the views from anyone living in Norfolk or anyone providing pharmaceutical services in Norfolk.  Your comments will inform the final Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment which will be produced by 1^st October 2022.