Page last updated: 25-SEP-2007

General Practice - Quality & Outcomes Framework

Revisions to the QOF for 2006/07

The structure of the QOF was revised significantly for 2006/07, reflecting agreement between the four UK Government Health Departments and The General Practitioner Committee of the British Medical Association as part of the 2006/07 GMS contract review.  A summary of the changes is below.

In 2004/05 and 2005/06 practices could score up to a maximum of 1050 points across 146 indicators.  For 2006/07, this was revised to a maximum of 1000 points across 135 indicators. 

Many of the changes were to indicators in the clinical domain.  The framework now includes indicators for a wider range of health conditions than was the case previously.  Meanwhile, many of the conditions already included in 2004/05 and 2005/06 had indicators introduced, amended, or dropped.  Amendments included changes to the exact definitions of the indicators, changes to the numbers of points available, and increases in the thresholds that practices had to exceed in order to receive at least some points and payment for the indicator.  In brief, the biggest changes applied to the following clinical areas: 

  • Eight clinical areas were included in the QOF for the first time in 2006/07, these being Atrial Fibrillation (a heart rhythm disorder), Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Dementia, Depression, Heart Failure, Learning Disabilities, Obesity and Palliative Care.
  • Nine clinical indicator groups were amended, these being Asthma, Cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), Diabetes, Epilepsy, Mental Health, Smoking indicators and Stroke & Transient Ischaemic Attack

Included in the original QOF but removed for 2006/07 were 50 "Access Bonus" points.  These points were awarded to practices if they could consistently offer their patients access to a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional within 48 hours, when clinically appropriate.  Whilst the access bonus points were removed from the QOF at the end of March 2006, the requirement that practices demonstrate 48-hour access was formalized as a Directed Enhanced Service (Enhanced Services are another part of the new GMS contract, separate from the QOF).

More details on the changes to the QOF for 2006/07 can be found:


Main contact: Email Julie Kidd