What is the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA)?

The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) reports on the need for and provision of pharmacy services in a local area.  The PNA is primarily used by NHS England to make decisions about applications to open new pharmacies or to change their location within a local area.  The assessment may also help Westminster City Council or local health organisations to understand what services they can buy from pharmacies to support residents or visitors, for example, help for residents to stop smoking.  

What is the Health and Wellbeing Board?

The Health and Wellbeing Boards were set up by the Government in 2013 within each local area. They are a forum through which council and key partners from the health and care system work together to improve the health and wellbeing of the local population and tackle health inequalities.

The Westminster Health and Wellbeing Board brings together leaders from key agencies such as the council, the NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups, Healthwatch and the voluntary and community sectors.

What does the Westminster Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment tell us? 

Number of pharmacies 

The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment tells us that there are 93 pharmacies in Westminster.  This means that there are 38 community pharmacies per 100,000 residents within Westminster. There are also 47 pharmacies located outside of Westminster which are within 500m of the Westminster borough border. 

This is a high rate of pharmacy provision. However this reflects the fact that Westminster receives a high volume of visitors and workers who may need pharmacy services.

Most residents within Westminster will need to travel no more than 500 metres to reach a pharmacy.

On the basis of the evidence collected, the Westminster Health and Wellbeing Board believe that the current number and location of pharmacies means that we have sufficient pharmacy services in Westminster to cater for the needs of residents and visitors.

Opening Hours

35 pharmacies in Westminster are open before 9am and 33 pharmacies are open after 7pm from Monday to Friday. There are 74 pharmacies open on Saturdays and 41 pharmacies open on Sundays within the borough.  In addition, a number of pharmacies in neighbouring Boroughs within 500m of Westminster provide early morning, late evening and weekend opening.

On the basis of the evidence collected, the Westminster Health and Wellbeing Board believes that there are sufficient pharmacy services in the early morning, late evening or on a Saturday and Sunday within the borough.

For a full statement of services please see the executive summary in the report.