Number of pharmacies in Suffolk below national average
It's harder to access a pharmacy in parts of our county than elsewhere in England
West Suffolk has the highest proportion of pharmacies with long opening hours in the county, according to a report that also shows numbers of pharmacies across Suffolk sitting below the England average.
The Suffolk Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, due to be accepted by Suffolk’s Health and Wellbeing Board next Thursday, shows that seven (23.3%) of all community pharmacies in West Suffolk are open for 100 hours a week.
The Suffolk average for 100-hour pharmacies is 12% – with just one in Mid Suffolk, two in Ipswich and Babergh, and four in East Suffolk.
West Suffolk also holds the title for the highest proportion of pharmacies open on Sundays – at 40%, which is 14% higher than the Suffolk average, and for the greatest number open after 6.30pm – at 30%, which is 6% more than the county average.
The area is beaten on the proportion of pharmacies open on a Saturday, however, as its 87% is topped by East Suffolk’s 89% and Mid Suffolk’s 92%.
West Suffolk also falls down on the overall number of community pharmacies. While it has 17.5 per 100,000 of population, Ipswich has just over 22 and East Suffolk has 18.4. Mid Suffolk and Babergh have the lowest number, with 12.4 and 15.1 respectively.
The average across Suffolk is 17.5 pharmacies per 100,000, lower than the England average of 20.6 and the East of England average of 19.4.
The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment states the average in Suffolk rises to 23.3 per 100,000 when dispensing GPs are considered. However, only certain patients can receive dispensing services from such doctors, and the statistics across England would also be higher if these were accounted for.
To be eligible for dispensing services from GPs, you must either live more than one mile from a pharmacy, or show you would have serious difficulty obtaining medication from an NHS pharmacist for another reason.
According to the Dispensing Doctors’ Association, there were around 1,100 dispensing GPs in the UK in 2019, supplying pharmaceutical services to almost 4 million of their 8.7 million registered patients.
Results of a survey by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC), published in April of this year, found that 91% of the 5,000 pharmacies in England approached were experiencing staff shortages.
Ninety eight per cent of respondents, which included 1,000 pharmacy team members alongside 5,000 other pharmacy representatives, said workforce shortages were leading to increased pressures on pharmacy teams; 82% said these pressures were negatively impacting their mental health and wellbeing.
PSNC is recognised by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care as the body that represents NHS pharmacy contractors.
The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment is developed by a group led by Suffolk County Council representatives and including members from Integrated Care Boards (ICBs); local pharmaceutical and medical committees; NHS England and Healthwatch Suffolk.