Retired Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) indicators update

Following concerns highlighted by practices in relation to the request from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) to extract data related to retired QOF indicators, the BMA’s General Practitioners Committee (GPC) Executive team has taken up the profession’s legitimate concerns with NHS England and NHS Employers.

An apology has been issued by NHS England for the error which resulted in the HSCIC statement that “it is a requirement for general practices to ensure they continue to provide the services linked to these indicators”.

All parties have agreed that this is incorrect and not in accordance with the agreement negotiated between GPC and NHS Employers.

As a result, HSCIC have replaced the statement with “Practices continue to undertake the work and code activity related to retired indicators as clinically appropriate. This data extraction will help inform commissioners and provide statistical information but is not intended for performance management purposes”. The HSCIC documents have been republished.

The GPC has also written to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to alert them to this issue and to seek assurance that it will not use redundant QOF indicators to judge the performance of practices as the level of coding will now be so variable.

It is hoped that these amendments and republication will resolve the earlier concerns. In the event that you continue to experience issues please contact our GP Support team at gpsupport@lmc.org.uk.

Last updated : 16 Sep 2015

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