A review of community pharmacies in Croydon is currently under way to ensure that they provide the necessary services for local people.
Residents, pharmacy providers, health service commissioners and anyone interested in improving what pharmacies offer can participate in a public consultation that will help to shape the future development of pharmaceutical services.
The process, known as a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA), is a statutory requirement that must be carried out by local authority Health and Wellbeing Boards at least once every three years.
Information obtained from the PNA will be used to help decide if new pharmacies are required in a particular area, or if existing pharmacies should provide a wider range of services.
Pharmacy services can include dispensing medication from prescriptions, the sale of medicines to the public, providing advice on coping with ill health or general health and well-being, and receiving waste medicines for safe disposal.
Rachel Flowers, Croydon’s director of public health, said: “If you live or work in Croydon, help us to make important decisions about your local pharmacy. It can be the first point of contact for those everyday healthcare essentials and advice. We want to make sure that their services are easily accessible and that anyone visiting a pharmacy is happy with the service they receive.”
Click here to take part in the PNA consultation. It is open until Sunday 21 January 2018 and the outcomes will be made available by 1 April.
