Statistical Releases

Publication of the General Medical Services Quality & Outcomes Framework (QOF) data for Scotland, 2005/06

The statistics are published today (29th June 2006, 09:30h) by Information Services Division (ISD), NHS National Services Scotland at:  http://www.isdscotland.org/qof

Key messages:

• New information: This is the first publication of Scotland's Quality & Outcomes Framework (QOF) data for 1st April 2005 - 31st March 2006.  Data presented include points and payments achieved by each practice within an NHS Board, as well as prevalence rates across Scotland for ten diseases or health conditions, and comparisons with 2004/05.
• Overall achievement: Achievement in 2005/06, the second year of the QOF, has risen compared with 2004/05. On average across all General Medical Services (GMS) practices, 97.7% of the maximum points available were achieved (compared with 92.5% for 2004/05).
• Achievement within clinical areas: Across all GMS practices, average percentages of maximum points achieved in 10 clinical areas were higher in 2005/06 than in 2004/05.  Achievement in specific areas was as follows:
  • Asthma: 98.2% (up from 90.1% in 2004/05)
  • Coronary Heart Disease (CHD): 98.7% (up from 95.0%)
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): 97.0% (up from 88.1%)
  • Mental Health: 96.4% (up from 90.1%)
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure): 99.0% (up from 94.8%)
  • Cancer: 97.5% (up from 92.1%)
  • Stroke and Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA): 98.9% (up from 94.3%)
  • Hypothyroidism: 99.9% (up from 99.0%)
  • Epilepsy: 95.5% (up from 86.1%)
  • Diabetes: 98.5% (up from 96.0%)
• Achievement within non-clinical areas: This has also risen, with average achievement across all GMS practices as follows:
  • Organisational Domain: 95.9% (up from 89.2% in 2004/05)
  • Patient Experience Domain: 97.7% (up from 94.1%)
  • Additional Services Domain: 98.7% (up from 97.9%)
  • Access Bonus Points: 99.4% (up from 96.8%)
• Payments: Payments associated with the QOF accounted for approximately £134.5 million of a total £642 million invested in general practices in Scotland for 2005/06 (across all types of contracts for practices - GMS, "17C" and "2C").  This compares with £77 million and £590 million, respectively, for 2004/05.  The increase in QOF payments for 2005/06 are due to a combination of an increased payment per point (negotiated prior to the introduction of the QOF in 2004) and higher achievement overall against the quality standards set out in the framework.

Footnotes for editors

1. QOF is a new system that was introduced on 1st 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 framework has four main components focusing on:

• Clinical standards
• Organisational standards
• Experience of patients
• Additional services

Points are awarded to each practice depending on how well they perform against the set quality standards and appropriate remuneration is rewarded for the number of points achieved.

2. The QOF measures achievement against a range of evidence-based indicators, with points and payments awarded according to the level of achievement.  It is a voluntary part of the new GMS contract; general practices can aspire to achieve all, part, or none of the points available in QOF.  Additionally, practices with agreements or contracts other than GMS ("section 2C" or "section 17C" practices) may choose to participate in some or all of the QOF.

3. This is an ISD Scotland National Statistics release. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards and adhere to codes of practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

4. ISD collects, collates and maintains a wide range of health service data sets, which form the national corporate database for NHSScotland. By providing information, statistical services and effective use of information management and technology, ISD contributes to health improvement by informing decision making, research and debate within the NHSScotland, government departments and other organisations. Information Services is part of the NHS National Services Scotland. For more information about ISD go to http://www.isdscotland.org.

For further information contact:

Julie Kidd,
Principal Information Analyst,
Healthcare Information Group, ISD
email: Julie.Kidd@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk
phone: 0131 275 6450

Main contact: Julie Kidd

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