There is now less than one week remaining to respond to the UK Government’s consultation on the proposed formation of a Mayoral Combined County Authority for Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.
While the proposed devolution deal could bring significant benefits such as greater local control over funding and decision-making in areas like skills, transport, and business support it is important to note that the consultation also seeks views on future governance arrangements.
Voluntary sector colleagues are strongly encouraged to respond, even if they are broadly supportive of devolution overall. This is a key opportunity to help shape how governance will work in practice, and to ensure that any new arrangements meaningfully reflect and leverage the insights, experience, and community reach of the voluntary sector.
It is vital that the voice of the sector is heard in discussions about how representation is structured and how local knowledge can best inform decision-making within a future Mayoral Combined Authority.
Details of the consultation and how to respond can be found here:
This survey is being carried out by Essex County Council as part of a wider partnership of organisations planning for future pharmaceutical services.
Summary
We are inviting you to take part in a survey about pharmaceutical services (provided by pharmacies, dispensing doctors, internet pharmacies and dispensing appliance contractors) in the Essex area. The results from this survey will help us to understand how local people use the services, how they rate their experience, and what they would like in the future. These views will contribute towards the production of a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment for Essex and assist in determining what services are required to meet the needs of the local population.
The current Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment covering the Essex area is available on Essex Open Data.
If you would like more information about the survey, alternative formats (such as a paper copy, translation or an easy read copy) or have questions on how to complete the questionnaire, you can contact PublicHealth2@essex.gov.uk
Why your views matter
Completion of the survey is voluntary and if you choose not to take part it will not affect the care you receive from the NHS or your pharmacy/GP in any way.
Your answers will be kept completely confidential and won’t be collated with any information that makes you identifiable. It is voluntary to disclose this information. If you choose not to answer the ‘About you’ questions, it will not affect your participation.
Your answers will only be used to tell us about your experience of pharmaceutical services, and to help us to improve these services.
Your views are important to us so please spare a few minutes to complete the survey, it should take no longer than 5-7 minutes to complete.
The results of this survey will be available on Essex Open Data where the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment will be published in October 2025.
Essex County Council fully complies with information legislation. If you would like the full details of how we use personal data, and the rights you have about its use, please go to www.essex.gov.uk/privacy-community (Research & Citizen Insight) or call 03457 43043.
