Minister welcomes publication of GP Quality Achievements 2007/08

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey today welcomed the publication of the latest Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) achievement figures by GP practices in Northern Ireland.

The new figures show sustained high achievement for the provision of quality care to patients and directly reflect the minister’s determination to drive forward improvements in patient health care in Northern Ireland.

The minister said: “GP practices in Northern Ireland have demonstrated their commitment to improving quality patient care and have delivered outstanding results under the Quality and Outcomes Framework this year.

“Practices have achieved almost 99% of the total points available, maintaining their high performance from previous years and they are remunerated, through QOF payments, for achieving excellent results in the provision of high quality care.

“This investment in GP practices directly benefits patients through the high quality care they receive.

“GPs in Northern Ireland can justifiably be proud that the care they are providing is bringing about real improvements in their patients’ quality of life.”

Under the new Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), GP practices are rewarded for outcomes they achieve with their patients and the practices’ doctors, nurses and staff work as a team to provide high quality care to their patients, for example in the management of chronic disease.

Notes to Editors:

1. The information is published by the Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety (NI), available from the Quality & Outcomes Framework section of this site:

http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/hss/gp_contracts/gp_contract_qof.htm

2. QOF is a system that was introduced on 1 April 2004 as a fundamental part of the new General Medical Services (GMS) contract. It is designed to remunerate general practices for providing good quality care to their patients, and to help fund work to further improve the quality of health care delivered. The QOF is a voluntary part of the new contract. The QOF measures achievement against a range of evidence-based indicators, with points and payments awarded according to the level of achievement. The framework was revised for 2006/07 with the addition of new clinical domains and revision of some existing indicators, standards and points. The framework has four main components:

• Clinical Standards
• Organisational Standards
• Patient Experience
• Additional Services

3. Despite being a voluntary arrangement, all practices in Northern Ireland have participated in the QOF since its introduction in April 2004.

4. In 2007/08, general practices achieved 98.7% of the maximum points available. This compares to 97.8% achievement in 2006/07, 97.9% in 2005/06 and 94.2% in 2004/05. In the clinical domain, across all practices, 98.9% of points were achieved in 2007/08 (compared to 98.1% in 2006/07, 98.6% in 2005/06 and 95.4% in 2004/05). In the non-clinical domains, 98.3% of points were achieved in 2007/08 (compared to 97.2% in 2006/07, 96.7% in 2005/06 and 92.8% in 2004/05).

5. Across all general practices, the percentages of maximum points achieved in the 19 clinical areas in 2007/08 were as follows:

• Asthma: 98.6%
• Cancer: 98.9%
• Coronary Heart Disease (CHD): 99.7%
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): 99.4%
• Diabetes: 99.0%
• Epilepsy: 95.2%
• Hypertension (high blood pressure): 99.7%
• Hypothyroidism: 99.7%
• Mental Health: 96.6%
• Stroke & Transient Ischaemic Attack: 99.5%
• Atrial Fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm): 99.8%
• Chronic Kidney Disease: 98.7%
• Dementia: 99.8%
• Depression: 95.4%
• Heart Failure: 99.2%
• Learning Disability: 100%
• Obesity: 100%
• Palliative Care: 95.8%
• Smoking (status recorded for specific conditions): 99.6%

6. Across all general practices, the percentages of maximum points achieved in the 3 non-clinical areas in 2007/08 were as follows:

• Organisational Indicators: 97.3%
• Patient Experience: 100%
• Additional Services: 98.4%

7. Payments associated with the QOF accounted for £43.3 million of a total £217.5 million invested in general practices in Northern Ireland in 2007/08.

8. For statistical or data queries, please contact Information & Analysis Directorate on 028 9052 2700.

9. For policy queries, please contact General Medical Services Branch, Primary Care Directorate on 028 9052 0240.

10. Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0074, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.