Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure community pharmacy provision in new housing developments in Dorset.

Local authorities are required to undertake a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served by local pharmacies. Legislation requires PNAs to include considerations of the future need for pharmaceutical services in the area. The Department has published an information pack to support local authorities in preparation of PNAs, with the pack available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/617bdc31d3bf7f5601cf3168/pharmaceutical-needs-assessment-information-pack.pdf

Chapter 6 of the information pack provides advice on how future needs, improvement or better access should be articulated in the PNA, including following any new housing developments. These assessments inform commissioning decisions by integrated care boards.