The Health and Wellbeing Board of Northumberland Council met on Thursday, 14 November 2024, to discuss the annual report on the Joint Strategic Needs and Assets Assessment (JSNAA) and receive an update on the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA). The Board resolved to receive the JSNAA annual report, review options for topics for development in 2025-26 and suggest further options, and consider partner resources to support JSNAA development for 2025-26. They also agreed the project plan for the PNA and noted the update on pharmacy services in Blyth, Cramlington, and Alnwick.

Joint Strategic Needs and Assets Assessment: Annual Report

The Board received an annual report on the development of the Joint Strategic Needs and Assets Assessment (JSNAA). Councillor Veronica Jones, Cabinet Member for Tackling Inequalities, introduced the report, which highlighted that 22 JSNAA chapters have been published across four thematic areas: Starting Well, Living Well, Ageing Well, and Building Blocks for a good life. A new JSNAA website has been launched to improve the presentation, functionality, and accessibility of this information.

Key discussions included the importance of the JSNAA in understanding the health and wellbeing needs of Northumberland's population and informing strategic approaches to improving health and tackling inequalities. Members noted that the JSNAA helps to identify health and social inequalities, as well as the strengths and assets within communities. The website's structure, with its data dashboards and topic summaries, was praised for its informativeness.

Several suggestions were made for future JSNAA topics, including breastfeeding, child nutrition, smoking in pregnancy, oral health, physical activity, sexual health, drugs and alcohol, vaping and smoking, and complex social needs. The need to consider mental health transformation work and the transfer of dentistry services to the Integrated Care Board (ICB) were also raised. Concerns were expressed about the disproportionate ageing demographic in Northumberland and the potential impact on future healthcare. The Board was asked to consider what resources their organisations could offer to support the development of JSNAA chapters in 2025-26.

The Board resolved to:

• Receive the annual report describing the previous development of Northumberland's JSNAA and its current status.
• Review options for topics for development in 2025-26 and suggest further options.
• Consider partner resources to support JSNAA development for 2025-26.

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment Update

An update was provided on changes to pharmacy services in Blyth, Cramlington, and Alnwick, and the proposed project plan for the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) was agreed. Councillor Veronica Jones, Cabinet Member for Tackling Inequalities, introduced the report.

Key points from the update included the opening of a new pharmacy in Cramlington and the refusal of an application for a new pharmacy in Alnwick, which is currently under appeal. In Blyth, the outcome of six applications to open a new pharmacy in Newsham was still pending. The report highlighted the volatility of the pharmacy market, with several closures and changes of ownership. It was noted that pharmacies nationally have been reducing their opening hours to remain viable, with 100-hour pharmacies now permitted to reduce to 72 hours per week while maintaining evening and Sunday opening.

The Board was informed that a new PNA must be published by 30 September 2025. Discussions touched upon the vital role of pharmacies in providing public health services, such as stop smoking support and emergency contraception, and the potential impact of government funding cuts on these services. Concerns were raised about the implications of increased employer national insurance contributions and the rise in minimum wage for pharmacies.

The Chair agreed to collate a letter to the Secretary of State to highlight the concerns of the Board members regarding pharmacies and the impact of recent budget announcements.

The Board resolved to:

• Agree the project plan for the PNA and note the update on pharmacy services in Cramlington, Alnwick, and Blyth.

Health and Wellbeing Board – Forward Plan

The Board reviewed its forward plan for the 2024/25 council year. The plan was noted, with an amendment to schedule the Health Protection Assurance report for consideration at the January 2025 meeting and a request for a report on the ageing population and hospital pressures at a future meeting.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting was scheduled to be a Development Session held on Thursday, 12 December 2024.