The Doncaster Health and Wellbeing Board convened to discuss key issues impacting the city, including the endorsement of the Health and Wellbeing Board Annual Report, and the approval of the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment. The board also explored strategies to close the women's and child health gap in Doncaster. Anthony Fitzgerald, Executive Place Director (Doncaster) for NHS South Yorkshire ICB, was appointed as Vice-Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment

The board approved the publication of the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2025-2028¹. The PNA is a statutory document that assesses the needs for pharmaceutical services in the area and guides commissioning decisions by the NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB). Louise Robson presented the key findings of the PNA, which included:

• Demographics: Doncaster has an ageing population with a growing number of people aged 65 and over.
• Service Provision: There are 69 pharmacies in Doncaster, along with one dispensing appliance contractor and three dispensing GP practices.
• Access: Access to pharmacies is generally good, with most residents within a 15-minute drive of a pharmacy.
• Gaps: The PNA identified a future need for a pharmacy in the Unity development² between Hatfield and Stainforth, and in the Gateway East development³ west of the airport, as well as a need for better access to influenza vaccinations in Stainforth and Moorends.

The PNA highlighted that while there are no current gaps in pharmaceutical service provision, there is a need to plan for future developments and ensure access to key services like Pharmacy First⁴, hypertension case-finding, and contraception.

Health and Wellbeing Board Annual Report

The board endorsed the Doncaster Health and Wellbeing Board Annual Report 2024-2025 and recommended its publication to the full council. The report, presented by Clare Henry, highlights the board's progress in implementing the revised Health and Wellbeing Strategy, which focuses on three key areas:

• Improving the experience of ageing
• Closing the gap in women's and child health
• Creating healthy places to live, grow, and play

The report also showcases collaborative initiatives undertaken by partners, including examples of resident voice. Councillor James Church, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Public Health, noted in the foreword that the board aims to create conditions that allow residents to live healthy and happy lives, with a focus on addressing health inequalities.

Closing the Women's and Child Health Gap

The board held a spotlight session to discuss strategies for closing the women's and child health gap in Doncaster. Dr Nabeel Alsindi, GP and Place Medical Director, Toni Illman, Chief Funding and Information Officer, and Lee Golze presented data on women's health, highlighting key insights and learning. Members discussed pilot initiatives supporting families and considered how the board could influence its own organisations to support this vision. The board agreed to identify opportunities for collaboration to refine and implement recommendations in this area. Rachael Leslie noted that the next meeting in September would focus on 'narrowing the health gap for women and children'.