DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service. 30 October 2008
Delivering the
best possible care for patients and addressing health inequalities
will be at the heart of proposed changes to the GP quality
incentive scheme, the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), Health
Minister Ben Bradshaw announced today.
The QOF rewards GP practices for managing some of the most common
chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart failure; improving
health; organising practices well; how patients view their
experience at the surgery and the quality of extra services
offered such as child health and maternity services.
Under new proposals set out in a public consultation published
today, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
(NICE) would in future oversee the annual process of reviewing
clinical indicators. From April 2009, NICE would review the
benefits to patients and the cost effectiveness of the indicators
used to assess the quality of care provided by GP practices. NICE
would be responsible for developing a more transparent and
inclusive review process with input from patients and carers,
primary care professionals and other stakeholders.
The final choice of QOF indicators would remain a matter for
negotiation with the British Medical Association (BMA), based on
the advice produced by NICE.
The 12-week consultation is seeking views on how the new process
for assessing evidence for QOF indicators should work. The key
elements that will be considered in the consultation will be how
best to:
* Review existing QOF indicators and develop new indicators for
clinical quality and health outcomes, based on evidence of
clinical effectiveness;
* Allow a range of stakeholders, including patients, carers and
clinicians to identify potential QOF priorities;
* Set up a panel of independent experts that will prioritise
areas for developing new indicators;
* Pilot new indicators with GP practices; and
* Give flexibility to the local NHS to select some indicators to
reflect local health needs.
Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said:
"We have come a long way in addressing health inequalities
thanks to the current GP scheme for quality incentives and the UK
leads the world in providing incentives to GPs to improve quality
of care for patients.
"The latest figures for the Quality and Outcomes Framework
show that practices have continued to deliver improvements in
services for patients. But we want to ensure that GP practices
continue to deliver more improvements to patient care, and the
system needs to evolve to support practices in achieving even
better outcomes for patients.
"Asking NICE to manage a more independent, open and
transparent process for reviewing QOF indicators will make sure
that we make the best use of our annual investment in the scheme
and continue to support GPs in delivering the best care possible
for patients, allowing the QOF to adapt and respond to the latest
medical advances."
Professor Peter Littlejohns, Clinical and Public Health Director
at NICE, said:
"NICE welcomes today's proposals for the reform of the
Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF). One of NICE's
acknowledged key strengths is the robustness of its process for
assessing what is both clinically effective and what represents
best value for the NHS. By contributing to the process of
developing and reviewing performance indicators for GPs, we can
ensure that the principles behind our recommendations are
reflected in the QOF."
Dr Mike Dixon, Chairman of the NHS Alliance said:
"The Quality and Outcomes Framework for the new GP contract
has made UK GP practices the most accountable in the world. The
new arrangements with NICE provide it with even greater
credibility and, what's more, will make a real difference to
the quality of care our patients receive.
"NICE provides a level of objectivity and authority that can
only increase the validity of the quality framework, which has
already been shown to improve quality of care and reduce inequalities."
Notes to Editors:
1. A copy of the QOF consultation, including a full explanation
of how the current scheme operates and details of how to become
involved in the consultation can be downloaded from: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/index.htm
2. The consultation closes on 2nd February 2009.
3. For further details contact the Department of Health press
office on: 020 7210 5221.