Have your say on Sandwell’s Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA)
The PNA is a report that looks at whether pharmacies meet the needs of people in Sandwell. This includes whether there are enough pharmacies, in the right areas, offering the right services. The report must be updated every 3 years.
The draft report is now available for a 60-day consultation period, until 4 October 2025.
The report has drawn the following conclusions:
- There are enough pharmacies in the right locations. They meet the current and likely future needs of people living in Sandwell.
- Every town in Sandwell has a pharmacy open early, late, and on weekends.
- Pharmacies can offer a range of different services, but many people do not know which services their local pharmacy provides.
- The following services are available at most pharmacies:
- Flu vaccination
- Blood pressure checks
- Support with new medicines
- Lateral Flow Device Service (COVID-19 test)
- Pharmacy First Service (advice and treatment for seven common conditions)
- There are no pharmacies that can give the morning after pill free of charge without a prescription in Tipton and Rowley Regis.
- Few people use their community pharmacy to access:
- Stop smoking services
- Stoma Appliance Customisation Service
- Appliance Use Review Service (to support with use of an appliance such as catheter, equipment for incontinence or stoma appliance).
- Most pharmacies have wheelchair access.
- Most people are unaware that their pharmacy can make accessibility adjustments.
The report gives the following recommendations:
- Services provided by pharmacies should be widely promoted by pharmacies and other healthcare services.
- More pharmacies should offer the “morning after pill” free of charge, especially in Tipton and Rowley Regis. There is a plan for more local pharmacies to provide this service in Sandwell. There are also plans for the national Pharmacy Contraception Service to include the morning after pill.
- Pharmacies should be easily accessible to all (e.g. improving wheelchair accessibility, use of large print, use of ‘Language Line’). Pharmacies need to promote the access support available.
We want you to know your views on the conclusions and recommendations made, before we finalise the report. Please complete the survey here.