Mid Dorset PNA Locality Profile March 2025

As of January 2025, there are 7 pharmacies in Mid Dorset PNA Locality. There are 5 practices with dispensing doctors providing drugs and appliances to their own patients.

Of the 7 pharmacies, there are:

• 7 providing Pharmacy First services
• 5 independent pharmacies
• 2 pharmacies owned by national pharmacy chains: one by Boots Pharmacy and one by Superdrug Pharmacy
• 6 pharmacies with 40-hour contracts and one pharmacy with 100-hour contract. The 100-hour pharmacy is Tesco In-store Pharmacy, Weymouth Ave, Dorchester
• one distance-selling pharmacy
• no pharmacies with local pharmaceutical services contracts
• no dispensing appliance contractors (DAC)

The table below shows the provision in Mid Dorset Locality since the last PNA was published. There is no national expectation or standard on the ratio of pharmacies to population. These ratios do not consider the size and staffing of pharmacies which will determine the size of the population they are able to serve.

Number and rate of pharmacies and items dispensed in Mid Dorset PNA Locality, 2021/22 to 2024/25 (8 months).

Table 1: Pharmacy provision in Mid Dorset PNA Locality

Table listing annual pharmacy provision and dispensing activity in a Dorset locality, showing population figures, number of pharmacies, and items dispensed per head from 2021/22 to 2024/25.

Financial year	Area	Population	Number of pharmacies in latest month of FY	Pharmacies per 100,000 population	Number of dispensed items	Items dispensed per head
2021/22	Locality	45,633	6	13.1	624,591	13.7
2022/23	Locality	46,222	7	15.1	673,028	14.6
2023/24	Locality	46,222	7	15.1	729,156	15.8
2024/25 (8 months)	Locality	-	7	-	545,812	-
2023/24	Dorset	384,809	68	17.7	7,227,720	18.8
2023/24	South West	5,811,259	1,107	19.0	99,164,702	17.1
2023/24	England	57,690,323	12,009	20.8	1,112,920,890	19.3

Source: NHS Business Services Authority

Notes: Populations for locality and local authority are based on ONS mid-year population estimates. The population for each financial year is taken as the mid-year estimate for the first of the 2 years that make up the financial year. For example, for 2021/22 the population is taken as the mid-year estimate for 2021. If that year is not yet available, the latest available year is used.

The total number of items dispensed in this locality so far in 2024/25 is 545,812. Of the total number of items dispensed in this locality:

• 84.9% were prescriptions from GPs located in the same locality
• 7.55% were prescribed from GPs in Weymouth and Portland Locality
• 3.8% were prescribed from GPs in North Dorset Locality
• 2.38% were prescribed from GPs in West Dorset Locality
• 0.17% were prescribed from GPs in Purbeck Locality
• 0.01% were prescribed from GPs in East Dorset Locality
• 1.16% of items were prescribed from GPs outside of Dorset based localities

The dispensing proportions are highlighted in the pie chart.

Figure 2: Proportion of disposed items from Mid Dorset PNA Locality

The image contains a pie chart illustrating the distribution of dispensed pharmacy items in Mid Dorset. The pie chart breaks down the regional distribution: 84.9% from Mid Dorset, 7.55% from Weymouth and Portland, 3.8% from North Dorset, 2.38% from West Dorset, 0.17% from Purbeck, 0.1% from East Dorset and 1.16% from outside the area. A legend next to the chart assigns colours to each locality: Mid Dorset (green), Weymouth and Portland (purple), North Dorset (pink), West Dorset (light green), outside (yellow), Purbeck (dark yellow/brown), and East Dorset (grey).

Access to the essential services (core plus supplementary opening hours)

As of January 2025, in Mid Dorset PNA Locality, there are:

• one pharmacy open 7 days a week
• five pharmacies open 6 days a week
• one pharmacies open 5 days a week
• no pharmacies open before 8am at least 5 days a week
• one pharmacy open past 6:30pm at least 5 days a week

The opening hours over the week are shown in the bar chart below, with darker bars showing there are more pharmacies open between 9am and 5pm on weekdays and 9am and 1pm on Saturday mornings.

Figure 3: Mid Dorset PNA Locality pharmacy coverage across the week, January 2025

The image is a bar chart illustrating pharmacy availability in Mid Dorset across the week. The x-axis shows time slots from 9am to 9pm, while the y-axis lists days from Monday to Sunday. Darker bars indicate higher numbers of pharmacies open at a given time.

Below is a summary of the provision of advanced and enhanced services in Mid Dorset PNA Locality as of January 2025:

• New Medicine Service (NMS) accreditation: 7 pharmacies. In 2023/24 (the last full year of data), there were 1,689 NMSs undertaken
• Specialist Medicines provider: no pharmacies
• influenza vaccination: 6 pharmacies providing this advanced service
• Appliance Use Reviews: no pharmacies providing this service. Many appliances will be dispensed by DACs based around the country, which may provide this service
• NHS pharmacy contraception: 6 pharmacies providing this service
• Lateral Flow Device test supply: 7 pharmacies providing this service
• Hypertension Case-Finding: 7 pharmacies providing this service
• stop smoking: 7 pharmacies providing this service

Mid year resident population data show that there are approximately 45,600 people resident in the Mid Dorset PNA Locality (21,700 males and 23,800 females).

48% of its residents are female, and 52% are male. 29% are 65 years and older.

Mid Dorset PNA Locality has a similar population structure to the Dorset Council average. Compared to the national average it has a lower proportion of people aged under 18 and of working age but a higher proportion of people aged 65 and over.

Figure 4: Population proportion by 5 years age group

The image is a population pyramid chart comparing the age and gender distribution of populations in England and Mid Dorset. The chart displays age groups in 5-year intervals from 0 to 4 up to 90+, with the x-axis showing the proportion (%) of the population. The green bars represent Mid Dorset, males are represented in dark green and females in light green. Overlay lines distinguish between national and local data: black lines for England and orange lines for Dorset.

Source: Mid Year Population Estimates 2022

The area covered by the PCN is largely rural with the highest population density around the town of Dorchester.

Over the next 3 years from 2025 to 2028 population projections suggest the population of Dorset overall will increase by 4,300 (1.1%). This growth is driven by increases in the population aged over 65, with the number of children and young people (aged 0 to 16), and working age population projected to decrease.

The number of over 65s are projected to increase by almost 8,200 thousand (7%) to 2028, compared to a decrease of around 1,900 (-3%) for children and young people aged 0 to 16. The working age population is forecasts to decline by just under 2,000 (-1%). By 2025 those aged 65 and over will account for a third of the overall population.

Figure 5: Population density of Mid Dorset PNA Locality

The image is a map illustrating population density across Mid Dorset Locality in mid-2022, measured in people per square kilometre. Areas are shaded in varying intensities of green to represent different density levels. The scale at the top ranges from 25 to 13,473 people per square kilometre.

 

Demographics (age, life expectancy and deprivation)

Source: Dorset Intelligence & Insight Service (DiiS) Primary Care - SystmOne, Office for National Statistics Population Estimates mid-2022 and Office for Health Improvement and Disparities

• population count: 47,535
• percentage of the population who are in each age group for the DiiS registered population: under 25= 24%, 25 to 64= 47%, 65 and over= 29%
• percentage of the population who are in each age group as of the mid 2022 population estimates: under 25= 23%, 25 to 64= 48%, 65 and over= 29%
• percentage of the population who are in the top 20% most deprived: 0%
• percentage of the population who are in the top 20% of least deprived: 5%
• female life expectancy for wards across Dorset: Dorchester West= 80.8 years, Charminster St Mary's= 81.4 years, Winterborne & Broadmayne= 82.7 years, Chalk Valleys= 85.4 years, Dorchester East= 85.9 years, Crossways= 87.5 years
• male life expectancy for wards across Dorset: Dorchester West= 76.2 years, Crossways= 79.1 years, Winterborne & Broadmayne= 79.7 years, Charminster St Mary's= 79.9 years, Dorchester East= 81.6 years, Chalk Valleys= 85.4 years

Demographics (employment, unpaid care and household characteristics)

Source: Dorset Intelligence & Insight Service (DiiS) Primary Care - SystmOne, Census 2021 and Department for Work and Pensions

• percentage of the economically active aged 16+ population in employment: 97%
• percentage of the working age (16 to 64) population who are on out of work benefits: 10%
• percentage of residents who are disabled under the Equality Act: 20%
• percentage of the population aged 16+ who are economically inactive and long term sick or disabled: 3%
• percentage of households who have ownership or shared ownership of their accommodation: 69%
• percentage of households who have socially rented accommodation: 14%
• percentage of households who privately rent or live rent free: 17%
• percentage of households who have no car or van: 15%
• percentage of households who are lone parent households: 8%
• percentage of households who are lone pensioner households: 18%
• percentage of residents aged 5 and over who provide unpaid care: 10%
• percentage of the DiiS population who are informal carers: 4%

To understand any increases in demand for services based on planned housing developments, planning applications with consent to build to 2029 in BCP and Dorset have been analysed. Postcodes (or the nearest existing postcode to the development site) have been matched to Wards and then to PNA Locality.

This gives a realistic picture of housing growth within the Neighbourhood. The net level of development for this PNA Locality is approximately 1,340 dwellings. This is about 15% of the total net housing development for Dorset Council.

Development looks to be across the local area, however notable numbers will be seen in Poundbury (362), Crossways (258), Dorchester West (94) and Winterborne & Broadmayne (90).

There are no lower super output areas (LSOAs) in Mid Dorset PNA Locality that are in the most deprived national quintile.

Two LSOAs in Dorchester are among the most 40% deprived.

10% of its population live in the 20% most deprived areas of Dorset.

None of its residents live in the 20% most deprived areas of England.

Figure 6: Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) Decile for Mid Dorset PNA Locality

The image is a map illustrating the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) Decile for Mid Dorset PNA Locality. It uses a gradient of green shades to represent deprivation levels, where darker greens indicate more deprived areas and lighter greens indicate less deprived areas. The decile scale ranges from 1 (most deprived) to 10 (least deprived). 

Long Term Conditions (LTCs)

Source: Dorset Intelligence & Insight Service (DiiS) Primary Care - SystmOne - 23 February 2025

• population count: 47,535
• population with 0 LTCs: 43%
• population with 1 LTC: 20%
• population with 2 LTCs: 13%
• population with 3+ LTCs: 24%
• percentage of the opted-in population who are frail: 14% - note this is for the opted in population only as of March 2024 with an update coming soon
• percentage of the opted-in population aged 65+ who have a High Falls Risk: 1% - note this is for the opted in population only as of March 2024 with an update coming soon
• percentage of the population who has each condition: other= 34%, hypertension= 19%, depression= 17%, asthma= 14%, cancer= 8%, diabetes= 7%, diabetes Type 2= 6%, coronary heart disease= 4%, atrial fibrillation= 4%, COPD= 2%

Health and Wellbeing

Source: Dorset Intelligence & Insight Service (DiiS) Primary Care - System One - 23 February 2025

• population count: 47,535
• percentage of the population are at risk of financial vulnerability: 9%
• percentage of the population are at risk of social isolation: 20%
• percentage of population at risk of digital exclusion: 12%
• percentage of the population are smokers: 0%
• percentage of the population aged 18+ and overweight or obese: 54%
• percentage of the population in the Chronic life course segment: 42%
• percentage of the population in the End of Life life course segment: 2%

Comparison with England average

To understand the health needs and wider determinants of health in the PNA Locality, a national profiling tool has been used. This compares local level data with the English average and highlights any areas that are significantly different.

The table below shows the data and for each indicator it highlights whether the value is lower or higher to national rates using a 99.8% confidence interval. An analysis of health needs within this PNA locality indicates a higher prevalence of several long-term conditions compared to the national average in England. These include cancer, coronary heart disease (CHD), atrial fibrillation, stroke, hypertension and asthma.

Table 2: Fingertips overview of health and wider determinants for Mid Dorset, 2023/24

This is a comparative table showing Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) prevalence rates for various health conditions across England, Mid Dorset Locality, and several GP practices for the year 2023/24. Conditions include cancer, coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, hypertension, COPD, asthma, diabetes, obesity, depression, mental health, and dementia. The table presents prevalence percentages for each condition, allowing comparison between national, regional, and local practice-level data.

Table legend:

• all those without an asterisk = prevalence is higher than national average using a 99.8% confidence interval
• * = prevalence is similar to the national average
• ** = prevalence is lower than national average using a 99.8% confidence interval

Indicator	Period	England	Mid Dorset PNA	J81016 - Queens Avenue Surgery	J81035 - Milton Abbas Surgery	J81053 - Cerne Abbas Surgery	J81068 - Atrium Health Centre	J81082 - Poundbury Doctors Surgery	J81609 - Malthouse Meadows Surgery	J81616 - Puddletown Surgery	J81626 - Fordington Surgery
Cancer: QOF prevalence (Persons, All ages)	2023/24	3.6	5.2	5.0	4.4 *	5.0	5.4	5.2	4.9	7.2	5.5
CHD: QOF prevalence (Persons, All ages)	2023/24	3.0	4.2	3.7	3.8	4.8	4.3	3.6	4.6	4.1	4.6
Heart Failure: QOF prevalence (Persons, All ages)	2023/24	1.1	1.3	1.0 *	1.1 *	1.3 *	1.4	1.2 *	1.5	0.8 *	1.9
Atrial fibrillation: QOF prevalence (Persons, All ages)	2023/24	2.2	3.7	3.2	3.0	4.0	3.7	3.7	4.2	3.4	4.0
Stroke: QOF prevalence (Persons, All ages)	2023/24	1.9	2.7	2.8	1.7 *	3.1	2.8	2.3	3.1	2.8	2.7
Hypertension: QOF prevalence (Persons, All ages)	2023/24	14.8	17.9	13.9 *	15.1 *	21.1	17.2	15.5 *	21.3	20.7	21.3
COPD: QOF prevalence (Persons, All ages)	2023/24	1.9	2.0 *	1.4 **	1.8 *	1.7 *	2.6	2.1 *	1.9 *	1.6 *	2.5
Asthma: QOF prevalence (Persons, 6+ years)	2023/24	6.5	8.4	6.8 *	8.4	9.1	7.9	8.7	9.0	9.0	8.9
Diabetes: QOF prevalence (Persons, 17+ years)	2023/24	7.7	7.3 *	6.6 **	7.5 *	7.2 *	8.3 *	6.6 **	7.3 *	6.8 *	8.3 *
Obesity: QOF prevalence (Persons, 18+ years)	2023/24	12.8	11.5 **	8.7 **	11.1 **	8.0 **	16.5	10.1 **	10.0 **	14.2 *	15.4
Depression: QOF prevalence (Persons, All ages)	2023/24	1.5	0.7 **	0.3 **	0.6 **	0.5 **	1.0 *	0.6 **	0.4 **	0.3 **	2.2
Mental health: QOF prevalence (Persons, All ages)	2023/24	1.0	0.8 *	0.8 *	0.5 **	0.7 *	1.0 *	0.8 *	0.9 *	0.5 **	1.3
Dementia: QOF prevalence (Persons, All ages)	2023/24	0.8	1.0	1.1	0.5 *	1.4	0.6 *	0.7 *	1.1	0.8 *	1.9

Source: National General Practice Profiles in Fingertips 2023/24

Local health

Local Health provides evidence of inequalities within local areas aggregated to represent this PNA Locality.

The table below shows the data and for each indicator it highlights whether the value is significantly different to national rates using a 95% confidence interval. An assessment of the wider determinants of health reveals significantly worse outcomes in four key areas. The locality experiences a significantly higher incidence of prostate cancer, increased hospital admissions related to self-harm, a greater proportion of residents living with limiting long-term illness or disability and a higher number of deaths from stroke. 

Table 3: Local Health - Office for Health Improvement and Disparities overview of health and social indicators 2022

This table presents health and social indicators comparing Mid Dorset Locality to England's national averages. Indicators include income deprivation, child poverty, older people in poverty, overcrowded housing, teenage pregnancies, low birth weight, and emergency hospital admissions for various conditions. Each indicator is accompanied by:

• selection value - the local area's data
• England value national average
• England worst/best: extremes across England comparison between England and area value

This table helps identify areas of concern or strength in local health outcomes compared to national benchmark.

Indicators	Selection value	England value	England worst	Difference	England best
Income deprivation (%)	8.0	12.9	50.7	significantly better than England	0.7
Child Poverty, Income Deprivation Affecting Children (%)	10.4	17.1	63.4	significantly better than England	0.6
Older People in poverty, Income deprivation affecting older people (%)	8.4	14.2	77.2	significantly better than England	1.2
Older people living alone (%)	29.3	31.5	63.3	significantly better than England	10.0
Overcrowded houses (%)	4.2	8.7	54.4	significantly better than England	0.2
Deliveries to teenage mothers (%)	0.0	0.7	8.7	not significantly different to England	0.0
Low birth weight of live babies (%)	6.1	6.8	17.9	not significantly different to England	1.3
Emergency hospital admissions for all causes (SAR)	87.8	100.0	217.7	significantly better than England	32.1
Emergency hospital admissions for coronary heart disease (SAR)	74.6	100.0	353.1	significantly better than England	25.2
Emergency hospital admissions for stroke (SAR)	87.0	100.0	265.2	significantly better than England	28.9
Emergency hospital admissions for Myocardial Infarction (heart attack) (SAR)	84.5	100.0	301.9	significantly better than England	21.4
Emergency hospital admissions for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (SAR)	55.6	100.0	589.2	significantly better than England	0.0
Emergency hospital admissions for hip fractures, persons aged 65 years and over (SAR)	98.3	100.0	421.5	not significantly different to England	0.0
Incidence of all cancer (SIR per 100)	95.5	100.0	170.3	not significantly different to England	39.1
Incidence of breast cancer (SIR per 100)	97.4	100.0	225.9	not significantly different to England	32.6
Incidence of colorectal cancer (SIR per 100)	84.6	100.0	274.8	significantly better than England	32.5
Incidence of lung cancer (SIR per 100)	71.6	100.0	384.2	significantly better than England	20.7
Incidence of prostate cancer (SIR per 100)	127.9	100.0	232.9	significantly worse than England	22.7
Emergency hospital admissions for intentional self harm (SAR)	127.1	100.0	586.6	significantly worse than England	0.0
Hospital admissions for alcohol attributable conditions, (Narrow definition) (SAR)	70.6	100.0	470.8	significantly better than England	26.1
Hospital admissions for alcohol attributable conditions (Broad definition) (SAR)	69.3	100.0	478.1	significantly better than England	34.5
Limiting long-term illness or disability (%)	19.1	17.6	40.8	significantly worse than England	2.2
Deaths from all causes, all ages (Standardised mortality ratio (SMR))	97.4	100.0	258.2	not significantly different to England	38.3
Deaths from all causes, under 75 years (Standardised mortality ratio (SMR))	78.4	100.0	299.3	significantly better than England	31.0
Deaths from all cancer, all ages (Standardised mortality ratio (SMR))	91.0	100.0	205.3	significantly better than England	39.9
Deaths from all cancer, under 75 years (Standardised mortality ratio (SMR))	80.8	100.0	246.4	significantly better than England	0.0
Deaths from circulatory disease, all ages (Standardised mortality ratio (SMR))	106.1	100.0	241.3	not significantly different to England	20.5
Deaths from circulatory disease, under 75 years (Standardised mortality ratio (SMR))	78.5	100.0	332.5	significantly better than England	0.0
Deaths from coronary heart disease, all ages (Standardised mortality ratio (SMR))	94.7	100.0	293.8	not significantly different to England	0.0
Deaths from stroke, all ages (Standardised mortality ratio (SMR))	125.5	100.0	388.6	significantly worse than England	0.0
Deaths from respiratory diseases, all ages (Standardised mortality ratio (SMR))	90.1	100.0	331.1	significantly better than England	14.1
Deaths from causes considered preventable, under 75 years (Standardised mortality ratio (SMR))	73.4	100.0	357.7	significantly better than England	16.8

Source: Local Health - Office for Health Improvement and Disparities 2022