Consultation by: Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System
Healthwatch Birmingham and Solihull responded as a stakeholder to the draft Birmingham and Solihull Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2025–2028.
Our response included:
• Welcoming the quality and detail of the PNA, including reference to our Think Pharmacy First report and related local service developments.
• Advocating for greater use of patient feedback, highlighting how both positive and negative experiences shape perceptions of local provision.
• Stressing the importance of ongoing reviews of geographical coverage, especially in areas where population growth may create gaps in access.
• Raising concerns about access for people in rural and deprived communities, including reliance on transport and older populations.
• Highlighting difficulties in finding up-to-date information on specialist services, such as the Specialist Palliative Care Drugs (SPCD) service.
• Recommending that PNA data be shared in a clear and accessible format for the public.
• Supporting plans to deliver more services through community pharmacies while noting that public understanding and confidence in pharmacies as wider care venues needs to improve.
• Raising questions about additional services, such as the Discharge Medicines Service, including continuity of care, patient-initiated follow-up, and how long-term records are transferred between pharmacies.