Telford & Wrekin Pharmacy Needs Assessment 2017 Consultation

News - 12 January 2018

The Pharmacy Needs Assessment is a review of the current and future provision of pharmacy (and dispensing GP) services in Telford and Wrekin.
Person speaking to a pharmacist

This includes dispensing, health advice, medicine reviews, and public health services. An important element of the PNA is that it ensures recommendations are made so that pharmacy services meet local needs. This consultation is your opportunity to have your say about local pharmacy services – the findings of the assessment can be found here. It will run between January and March 2018.

Summary of the Telford and Wrekin Pharmacy Needs Assessment 2017

(please note that this does not include all the points made in the consultation documents)

  1. There is sufficient coverage by pharmacies in Telford & Wrekin and opening times and accessibility are adequate.
  2. There is sufficient awareness and coverage of the Medicines Use Review (face to face discussion with pharmacist about medications to help reduce unused medicines and for patient to understand and ask questions e.g. about side effects) and New Medicines Service (for those with long term conditions, when newly prescribed a medicine this is to help improve adherence through empowering patients in their understanding and ownership of their medication).
  3. Appliance user reviews and stoma appliance customisation services are low, provided instead through clinic, hospital or dispensing appliance provider. There is one dispensing appliance provider in Telford & Wrekin, Nucare Ltd.
  4. Pharmacies offer a common ailments service, providing for issues such as conjunctivitis and common skin problems, but there is a need for more encouragement of participation.
  5. Some pharmacies offer annual seasonal flu vaccinations, emergency supply services, free supply of healthy start vitamins, and screening. Those that do are listed within the PNA documents.
  6. Although Emergency Hormonal Contraception is not as available during the weekends as it is during weekdays it is considered sufficient. Whilst free for women under 25 it was not considered cost effective to provide to those over 25 (it remains free from their GP).
  7. Whilst there is adequate coverage of chlamydia and gonorrhoea screening there is not sufficient take-up amongst 15-24 year olds, particularly men.
  8. Whilst there is sufficient coverage of the condom distribution scheme in pharmacies there needs to be more awareness in young people.
  9. Awareness needs to be raised of the Primary Eyecare Assessment Referral Service (PEARS) whereby patients presenting with minor eye conditions may be treated alongside an optometrist without needing to attend primary care services.
  10. Telford and Wrekin CCG have now established a prescription ordering department enabling patients to order their repeat prescriptions requests through a dedicated telephone request service. Once authorised they are sent to the patients pharmacy.
  11. Newport does not have weekend or extended dispensing times.

Healthwatch Telford & Wrekin will share any recommendations you make to us regarding Pharmacy provision locally. However, if you would like to make recommendations directly to Telford and Wrekin CCG please send your comments via email to Hitesh Patel. Please make sure you read the full consultation documents which can be found here.

If you prefer your comments to be anonymous please write to:

PNA Consultation

Hitesh Patel

Senior Pharmaceutical Adviser

Telford and Wrekin CCG

Halesfield 6

Telford

TF7 4BF

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