The Quality and Outcomes Framework
The QOF was introduced in 2004 as a voluntary incentive scheme for GP practices in the UK. It contains groups of indicators against which practices score points according to their level of achievement, with a higher score leading to higher financial rewards. The aim of the QOF is to highlight priorities for improving patient care and provide incentives for GPs to drive up quality in these areas.
  • QOF indicators are intended to identify areas where responsibility lies mainly with GPs in primary care, where there is evidence of health benefits from improved primary care, and where the disease is a priority in a number of the devolved nations.
  • One QOF indicator relates to obesity:

“if a practice can produce a register of patients aged 16 or over and with a BMI greater than 30 in the preceding 15 months” then eight points are added to the QOF score.

  • However,  this indicator requires no action – aside from the production of a register – to be taken for any points to be received.
  • GPs should be provided with better incentives to tackle obesity before it leads to major health complications.
Immediately related elementsHow this works
-
Tackling obesity in the UK Â»Tackling obesity in the UK
Tackling obesity Â»Tackling obesity
Improve the costs and outcomes of medical interventions Â»Improve the costs and outcomes of medical interventions
Incentivise GPs to improve patient outcomes Â»Incentivise GPs to improve patient outcomes
Focus outcomes indicators on action by primary health professionals Â»Focus outcomes indicators on action by primary health professionals
The Quality and Outcomes Framework
+Commentaires (0)
+Citations (2)
+About