‘Alarmingly poor’ PNAs could hit future commissioning, pharmacy leaders warn

Not sticking up for PCTs but all the ones I have studied in different PCTs have been completely different form each other. Also PNAs had to be completed at a time when PCTs were effectively told they were being disbanded. I am not sure that they were carried out under the correct circumstances. Why wasn't a national template devised so that an exact standard could be followed and then individual PCTs having their PNAs reviewed and rectified where they fell short? It seems an easy excuse to use to prevent future commissioning of new services. I am also not surprised that PNAs were defensive when PCTs were being inundated with 100 hour applications in clusters around existing pharmacies rather than in areas that required them where service provision was previously lacking. Competition is good and welcomed but all the extra establishment payments are a drain on the global sum. Normal business and competition principles are difficult to apply when funding is a closed shop!