Commentary on Sections Part 6 – Primary Care Services Section 206 - Pharmaceutical needs assessments
1233.This section makes amendments to sections 24, 24A, 128A, 242 and 242A of the NHS Act.
1234.Subsection (1) amends section 128A of the NHS Act which makes provision in respect of the arrangements for preparing pharmaceutical needs assessments. Pharmaceutical needs assessments are closely aligned to joint strategic needs assessments which are addressed in section 189. The amendments to section 128A will ensure that the responsibility for developing, updating and publishing local pharmaceutical needs assessments is transferred from PCTs to health and wellbeing boards in local authorities.
1235.Subsections (2) to (5) amend sections 24, 24A, 242 and 242A respectively to remove, pending the abolition of PCTs and SHAs, their consultation and service user engagement obligations. In practical terms, these obligations are effectively discharged by PCTs when complying with the requirements in section 128A when they consult in relation to their pharmaceutical needs assessments.