A new assessment of pharmacy services on the Island does not address the real issues concerning Islanders, the Isle of Wight Council leader has said.
These include obtaining medication, short-notice closures and retention and recruitment of staff.
Isle of Wight Council leader Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox told the Isle of Wight Health and Wellbeing Board last week it saddened her that the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) did not deal with the real issues Islanders were worried about.
The board accepted the PNA, a technical document which determines whether existing services on the Island are enough or identifies gaps in the provision.
Cllr Peacey-Wilcox said she hoped in the future these matters could be reflected.
The Island’s public health director, Simon Bryant, agreed it was technical but said it was a legal duty that has to be carried out and NHS England sets its content.
Michaela Dyer, Isle of Wight manager of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB), said she recognised people’s main concerns were about accessibility and issues with pharmacies that are closed, predominantly due to the issues in recruiting pharmacists. She said:
“The work we are doing is very much with the large companies to keep pharmacies open, particularly in places where we know we have had recent closures.
Article continues below this advertisement “While this is a technical document, the work is focused on the operational side and keeping things going.”
Mr Bryant said:
“We will work closely with partners to meet the needs of Islanders and see what else we want to learn about pharmacies and how we move this forward in a collaborative way.”
In the consultation of the PNA, 67% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed there were gaps in services which had not been highlighted. However, the overall finding of the PNA concluded the number, distribution and choice of services on the Island met the current population’s needs until 2025.
The PNA will help the ICB and public health teams commission services in the future if necessary.
Of far more concern is the lack of adequate GP Surgeries, a provision which is failing to keep pace with the amount of house building and subsequent population increase. That needs urgent action
Why did my comment disappear into the ether ?