Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment
The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) is a statutory requirement under the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services and Local Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2013.
It highlights the needs of residents in Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) area for pharmaceutical services. It is a key tool for NHS England to decide how to commission pharmaceutical services. It also supports regulatory functions to provide high-quality pharmaceutical services for all.
The PNA:
describes the current services available across the county
looks at the need for pharmaceutical services in the Dorset and BCP areas
makes recommendations for the future provision of pharmaceutical services
PNA for 2025
The Dorset Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) and the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) have the statutory responsibility for the PNA. Section 198 of the Health and Social Care Act allows two or more HWBs to make joint arrangements in how they discharge their functions.
Both Health and Wellbeing Boards agreed for the shared service ‘Public Health Dorset’ to develop the 2025 PNA as a single document to cover the Dorset Integrated Care System. The ‘Public Health Dorset’ shared service was disaggregated on 1 April 2025. The 2025 PNA document was completed by the Dorset Council and BCP Council Public Health Teams on behalf of the Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs).
Consultation on the draft document took place between 10 June 2025 and the 14 August 2025.