Underperforming pharmacies could bear the brunt of future service cuts, an LPC chief has warned, as services were cut in the lowest performing pharmacies in his area.   Essex PCT had cut NHS health checks and sexual health services, a C+D investigation using Freedom of Information Act requests showed. Commissioners could start to scrutinise performance more closely, LPC chief executive Ash Pandya stressed. "I think in general PCTs will continue to monitor the delivery of enhanced services carefully going forwards," he told C+D. "If contractors don't perform once they've signed up, there's a danger they may be decommissioned." But pharmacies must get the chance to improve their performance, he argued. "I believe very strongly there should be proper performance management procedures before a service is decommissioned.   "As with all contractual arrangements, there should be action plans created for contractors and then they should be given the opportunity to improve performance. If they're not performing after that, then perhaps there's an argument to say decommissioning is fair." Essex PCT said it had decided to selectively decommission services because "non-delivering pharmacies would likely to have been deskilled as a result of little or no activity" and continuation would not have been "appropriate nor cost-effective".

See C+D's interactive map of the cuts here.  

Essex LPC chief executive Ash Pandya on decommissioning

C+D digital content editor Niall Hunt speaks to chief executive of Essex LPC Ash Pandya about the decommissioning of services in Essex and whether the right approach was taken.

If you cannot see the video, download the latest version of Flash Player here.