The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) is a statement of the current pharmaceutical services provided in the local area and if this provision is satisfactory to meet the health, wellbeing and care needs of the local population. The PNA also helps to inform the planning of services and is used as the basis for determining market entry to the pharmaceutical list. Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWB) have a statutory responsibility to produce and publish a PNA every 3 years.

How can it be used?
Primarily the PNA is used to make decisions in the commissioning of NHS-funded services but it can also be used by local authorities and clinical commissioning groups when they are looking to commission services to meet local health needs and priorities

You can use the PNA to see all the services commissioned in your area, allowing you to review this against your provision. It can also help you to identify any gaps which you could then look to fill.

The PNA is a lengthy document and each one can vary in terms of specific content. However below are some key areas you should focus on:

• Executive summary: this will provide you with a general overview of the PNA and identify any key findings
• Health needs/local profiles: this will show the local demographics across the area as a whole and in each locality. This will give you an understanding of the make-up of your local population.
• Current provision and assessment: this will list the current pharmacies in the area and the services they already provide. This should include essential, advanced and locally commissioned but also other service providers, such as dispensing practices and any services in neighbouring areas that might impact. This will help you with reviewing your own service provision.
• Future needs/developments planned: this will highlight any planned developments and determine their future impact upon pharmacy and health needs. It may also suggest if these can be filled by current provision or if new services/pharmacies may be required.