We asked for your help in improving the pharmaceutical service by taking part in a survey and sharing your experiences of using these services. Worcestershire County Council managed the survey. This public survey closed on 31 January 2025.

This consultation was for nominated consultees to comment on the draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2025 document.

What is a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA)?

Every local authority, including Herefordshire Council, has a Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB). These act to promote integrated working among local providers of healthcare and social care such as the NHS, public health, adult social care, and children's services. Members also include elected representatives and local Healthwatch.

The main purpose of the Herefordshire HWB is to plan together how best to meet the needs of their local population and tackle local inequalities in health.

Since 2013, Herefordshire HWB have a responsibility to assess the need for pharmaceutical services of the population within their areas and to publish a statement of need. This is referred to as a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA).

Consultation on the Herefordshire Council PNA 2025

Herefordshire Council HWB produced a draft local PNA to help ensure residents have good access to local pharmacy services.

This PNA provides an assessment of the current provision of pharmaceutical services across Herefordshire and whether this meets the needs of the population, or if there are any potential gaps. Additionally, recommendations for where and how services may be improved.

The PNA will be used by the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board (HWICB), to consider applications to open new pharmacies, or to commission additional services from pharmacies. Local commissioners may also use information and evidence contained within the PNA to commission additional services from community pharmacies.

How you helped us

Herefordshire and Worcestershire councils conducted a survey to better understand local views on pharmaceutical services for those residents who work and stay in the county. Your views were confidential and the findings from the survey were used to inform the next draft stage of the PNA which was sent to stakeholders for their comments:

• Herefordshire Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2025 draft for consultation
• Herefordshire Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2025 appendices draft for consultation

The final PNA was published in October 2025:

• Herefordshire Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2025 final report
• Herefordshire Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2025 final report appendices

Previous Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments

• Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2022
• Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2018