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Project Information
An external evaluation of NHS Board delivery of the QOF review process during 2005/06.
Key dates
Start date: July 2006
Initial finish date: July2007
Initial finish date: July2007
Key contacts
Steven Wilson Team Manager
Aims & objectives
- Develop a Board self-assessment framework/guidance notes package in partnership with the GMS Pay Modernisation Quality Working Group
- Review NHS Board self-assessment submissions/core evidence
- Produce 15 individual Board reports providing an assessment of their performance against the national QOF review (Winter) standards, together with a national overview report focusing on best practice
- The project outcome is to provide external assurance to NHS Scotland that each NHS Board is consistently and systematically delivering a QOF review programme in line with the relevant national standards and to support quality improvement initiatives.
Outcomes
The local reports for each NHS Board and national overview are available for download.
Further Publication dates
NHS Orkney Local report will be reviewed in 2007.
Additional Information
The Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2004 introduced the concept of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) as a voluntary contractual requirement for participating GP practices. The QOF provides a significant financial incentive to demonstrate achievement against a wide range of clinical and organisational quality standards. Performance measures reflect the quality of care delivered to patients with chronic conditions such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, asthma and diabetes. Organisational standards include, for example, clinical records and staff training. Other clinical services such as cervical screening and child health surveillance are also covered, in addition to patient experience.
Investment associated with QOF payments in 2005/06 was approximately 137 million across Scotland (average payment 134k per practice). Monitoring arrangements for the QOF include a requirement for Boards to undertake a programme of supportive QOF review visits to their practices. The specification for the QOF review process is defined in guidance issued each year by the national Quality Working Group, which reports to the Scottish Executive Health Department General Medical Services (GMS) Pay Modernisation Directorate. The subgroup tasked with producing QOF review guidance is known as the Winter Working Group (Chaired by Dr Mike Winter, Associate Medical Director NHS Lothian Primary Care Organisation).
Current guidance has been issued to the service as the Winter 2 report; available via the
Pay Modernisation website:
Pay Modernisation website: