Feedback helps shape future of pharmacy services in York and North Yorkshire

Residents in York and North Yorkshire have helped to shape the future of pharmacy services across the county.

Public health teams from City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council are thanking residents and partner organisations who earlier this year shared their views on whether the locations, accessibility and services provided by pharmacies are adequate.

Plans have since been drawn up to develop the services in the future using feedback from the consultation, which was incorporated into the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA). Now A further 60-day consultation gets underway from tomorrow, asking for views on the final proposals.  

Have your say here  between Friday 20 June and Tuesday 19 August 2025.

Following this consultation, the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) will decide how pharmacy services are commissioned across York and North Yorkshire.

All Health and Wellbeing Boards are required to produce a at least every three years to ensure the best decisions about pharmacy services are made for communities.

The feedback received so far has helped to influence decisions on the location of pharmacies, their opening hours and the services provided, ranging from dispensing prescriptions to providing medication counselling.

Cllr Lucy Steels-Walshaw, executive member for health, wellbeing and adult social care at City of York Council, said: “We’d like to thank everyone for having their say. Pharmacies are an integral part of healthcare provision across our communities, so we really wanted to understand if current services are meeting the needs of all York residents.

"The findings from the survey have helped us to understand where pharmacies are already performing well and identify potential gaps in services, as well as those services that need improvement. This will help the NHS consider the public’s views in making sure everyone can get access to the right pharmacy services in the right places."

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for health and adult services, Cllr Michael Harrison, said: “Pharmacy services play a vital role in supporting health and wellbeing with pharmacies themselves often found in the heart of our communities.

“Good access to the right services at the right time is so important in helping to address health inequalities.”

The questionnaire is anonymous and confidential and should only take 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

North Yorkshire Council’s director of public health, Louise Wallace, and City of York Council’s director of public health, Peter Roderick, said: “Local pharmacies play a pivotal role in our county by providing healthcare and support to individuals, families and carers of all ages.

“All of the feedback, combined with the expertise of health professionals, has really helped the research shape the futures of pharmacies used by residents in York and North Yorkshire.

“Please consider reviewing the final documents and completing the survey which can be found on our website.”

The survey can be accessed at www.york.gov.uk/Consultations