The Essex Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) has produced a draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA).
Under the NHS Pharmaceutical Services Regulations 2013 regulations, all HWB’s are required to publish a PNA by 1 October 2025.
The purpose of the PNA is to assess and set out how the provision of pharmaceutical services can meet the current and future health needs of the HWB’s population for a period of up to three years.
The document is then used by the local Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) as the basis for determining market entry to a pharmaceutical list including the opening of additional pharmacies, relocations and consolidations of premises and amendments to opening hours or pharmaceutical services. It is also used by local commissioning organisations to commission pharmaceutical services.
As required by the NHS Pharmaceutical Regulations 2013, the Essex Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) are preparing to publish a PNA by 1st October 2025 to replace the current one (2022-2025).
The PNA is an assessment of needs for pharmaceutical services in the area which must be revised every three years.
The Draft PNA is now ready for consultation. The consultation will be open from 13 June 2025 to 13 August 2025.
As part the consultation we are inviting you to comment on the draft PNA by accessing the documents and the online survey through the Essex County Council consultation website: