4 November 2021

Since 1 April 2013, every Health and Wellbeing Board in England has had a statutory responsibility to publish and keep up-to-date a statement of the needs for pharmaceutical services (community pharmacies, dispensing doctors and appliance contractor) for the population in its area, referred to as a ‘Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment’. Kent Health and Wellbeing Board published its first Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment in 2015, revised 2018, and is now preparing a second version.

The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment will be used by NHS England when considering whether or not to grant applications to join the pharmaceutical list for the area of the Kent Health and Wellbeing Board under The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013, as amended. It may be used to inform commissioners such as the Clinical Commissioning Group and the County Council’s Public Health team, of the current provision of pharmaceutical services and where locally commissioned services could help meet local health priorities.

This survey is being conducted to assist in the production of the second version of the Kent Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment.