Pharmaceutical services helpdesk question

PCC regularly responds to helpdesk questions raised by our annual contract clients. One of the recent questions asked was:

Question – A number of pharmacies have closed in our area, and we think there are now gaps in the provision of services. Can we issue a supplementary statement saying that gaps have been created so that applications for new pharmacies can be granted?

Answer – Supplementary statements are statements of fact that explain changes to the availability of pharmaceutical services since a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) was published. They cannot go on to identify gaps in the provision of pharmaceutical services and articulate those as a need for, or improvements or better access, to a pharmaceutical service or services.

A supplementary statement may be issued where a health and wellbeing board (HWB) identifies changes to the availability of pharmaceutical services which:

a) are relevant to the granting of “routine applications” for inclusion in a pharmaceutical list, and
b) the HWB is satisfied that producing a new PNA would be a disproportionate response to the changes, or it is in the process of producing its next PNA and is satisfied that it needs to immediately modify its current PNA in order to prevent significant detriment to the provision of pharmaceutical services in its area.

“Routine applications” are defined as those offering to meet a current or future need, or to secure current or future improvements or better access, to one or more pharmaceutical services that has or have been identified in a PNA, or those offering unforeseen benefits.

Where a HWB is of the opinion that the closure of pharmacies, or the loss of pharmacy opening hours, has created a gap in the provision of pharmaceutical services it should start the process of producing its next PNA. In the meantime, it could issue a supplementary statement setting out what has changed, but it cannot state in the supplementary statement that there is a gap and it can only identify what is required to fill the gap that it believes has been created by producing a new PNA and clearly articulating the need, improvements or better access.

Contact PCC to discuss how we can help you enquiries@pcc-cic.org.uk.