Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2025

Overview

A Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) is a statement of needs in relation to pharmaceutical services. It is a key tool for NHS England to decide how to commission pharmaceutical services and aid in the consideration of applications to join the pharmaceutical list for the area. 

Every Health and Wellbeing Board is required to assess the need for pharmaceutical services in its area and to publish a PNA. The Dorset Health and Wellbeing Board and the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Health and Wellbeing Board agreed to develop the 2025 PNA as a single document to cover both areas. Section 198 of the Health and Social Care Act allows two or more HWBs to make joint arrangements in how they discharge their functions.

Why your views matter

We invite you to submit your thoughts on the draft 2025 Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) document. Your feedback will help inform further development of the PNA document which will be published in October 2025.

You can submit your views via the online survey below, or you can request a paper copy of the questionnaire through our contact details.

Please read the draft document before answering the questions. The PNA document:

• Describes the current services available across the county of Dorset
• Examines the need for pharmaceutical services in BCP and Dorset
• Makes recommendations for the future provision of pharmaceutical services

The quality of, and patient experience of, services is out of scope of the PNA. If you would like to comment on your experience of pharmaceutical services, please use the Healthwatch Dorset feedback form.