What do you think about the borough’s pharmacy services? Are there enough chemists near you? Do they offer the services you want? Ealing Council is encouraging residents to complete a short survey so your views can help shape the future for pharmacies in your area.
What are pharmaceutical services?
Pharmaceutical services in the borough are provided from community pharmacies, which includes those you may see in the local supermarkets, internet pharmacies, and providers of specialist medical appliances (such as stoma products).
Community pharmacies play an important role, often as the first point of contact when you are concerned about yours or your families’ health; they can provide support, advice and a number of healthcare services.
Why am I being asked for my views?
The Ealing Health and Wellbeing Board has a legal duty to publish a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment every 3 years, under the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013.
The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment is a report which is used to identify if there are any areas in the borough which need more or different pharmaceutical services and to understand whether there are any improvements needed for the future.
Councillor Polly Knewstub, the council’s cabinet member for healthy equal lives, said: “Good local community pharmacies are a crucial part of keeping us all healthy so it’s important that we understand if we have the right services in the right places and whether they are meeting our needs as a community. We want to make sure that you can access pharmaceutical services easily and that you are happy with the service that you get. I would really encourage anyone who uses their local pharmacy to give your views.”
NHS England, Ealing Council, and the Integrated Care Boards will use the results of the survey in lots of different ways, like making decisions when they receive applications for a new pharmacy, or to help decide which services they should commission to be delivered by community pharmacies.
How can I give my views?
You can complete the online questionnaire before the 25 October 2024. Or, if you would like a paper copy of the questionnaire, or any other help to complete the consultation, please call Soar Beyond on 0144 292 7972 or email pna@soarbeyond.co.uk
