Wiltshire councillors call for pharmacy assessment overhaul

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 06:08 · Archive

Wiltshire councillors want national rules changed to better address pharmacy shortages in growing communities.

Wiltshire councillors are calling for an overhaul of the system used to decide whether communities have enough pharmacies, amid concerns over 'pharmacy deserts' where growing populations are served by dwindling numbers of pharmacies. A motion going before Wiltshire Council on 20 October, proposed by Conservative councillors Dr Monica Devendran and Jane Davies, would see the council call on the Health Secretary to carry out a national review of the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment framework.

PNAs are statutory assessments used to determine whether existing pharmacy services meet local needs and form part of the evidence considered by the NHS when deciding applications for new pharmacies. The councillors argue the current system has 'not kept pace' with modern healthcare or the realities of rapidly expanding communities and relies heavily on quantitative data and geographical proximity.

They want greater weight given to patient experience, accessibility, pharmacy capacity, future housing growth, health inequalities and local need. Research published this year put the South West at 6,091 people for every pharmacy, second only to the South East among English regions examined, and reported 64 closures in the region between March 2022 and October 2025. Wiltshire's own assessment predicts 6,043 new homes will be built over three years, mostly in larger towns close to existing pharmacies.

How it is being reported

• Fears of 'pharmacy deserts' spark call for shake-up in WiltshireWiltshire councillors are calling for an overhaul of the system used to decide whether communities have enough pharmacies.Gazette & Herald · 16 Oct, 05:00
• Fears of 'pharmacy deserts' spark call for shake-up in WiltshireWiltshire councillors are calling for an overhaul of the system used to decide whether communities have enough pharmacies.Wiltshire Times · 16 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Wiltshire · Wiltshire Council · Dr Monica Devendran · Jane Davies · NHS · South West · South East

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