Issue - meetings

To receive a report from Public Health on the Pharmacy Provision in Rural Communities.

The Committee considered the report which provided an overview of the findings from the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) in relation to community pharmacy provision in rural communities within Cheshire East. It was noted that the Cheshire East Health and Wellbeing Board had a statutory responsibility to publish an updated statement of pharmaceutical needs every three years.

It was highlighted to Committee Members that since the publication of the PNA, Lloyds Pharmacy had announced the closure of 237 of its chemists in Sainsbury’s supermarkets by the end of the year. This directly impacted two pharmacies in Cheshire East (Nantwich and Macclesfield). Public Health officers were working closely with the Local Pharmaceutical Committee to understand the implications for the recommendations within the published PNA.

Cllr Anderson raised concerns relating to supplier issues and shortages of medicines. Cllr Anderson queried if the availability of certain medicines and the increasing shortages of them had been taken into account. Dr S Roberts committed to providing a written response.

Committee Members queried the value of the Blood Pressure (BP) contracts to pharmacists and also the impact this had on GP workload. It was confirmed that the BP service was commissioned by NHS England and pharmacists across the Country could opt in/out of this. The service had allowed individuals with high blood pressure to be detected at an early stage and resulted in earlier treatment.Dr Roberts committed to providing a written response which would update the Committee on the outcomes of the BP service and who was responsible for this.

RESOLVED:

That the report and PNA findings be noted.