‘Cash back’ for doctors who ration drugs at care homes

GPS are being “bribed” to ration drugs for elderly care home residents, patients groups say.

A scheme in Oxfordshire is offering GP practices “cash back” for money saved from drug budgets for the frail elderly.

Health officials said the financial incentives were intended to encourage family doctors to “review the quality, safety and cost effectiveness of their prescribing”. But local GPS have criticised the move with some declining to take part, and patients’ groups said it amounted to an attempt to “bribe” GPS into putting financial savings ahead of the needs of the elderly.

NHS Oxfordshire clinical commissioning group (CCG) has set GPS targets in an attempt to save at least £1.45million. Practices have been told to cut spending on medication by at least £2 per care home resident – and told they can keep £1 per patient, plus half of any more savings made.

Joyce Robins, from Patient Concern, said: “I’m absolutely horrified by this, it’s simply a bribe.”

The CCG has advised family doctors to “rationalise” prescribing of drugs to frail patients over 70, who suffer from a number of health problems.

The cost-cutting scheme is being offered to all GP practices in the county for 2017/18, NHS papers seen by Pulse magazine state.

A CCG spokesman said: “There is multimorbidity and polypharmacy in this group of patients leading to many potential problems, including side effects, non-adherence and medication waste. The incentive scheme will encourage practices to audit and review their prescribing in this group of patients to optimise their medicines management.”

More than four in 10 NHS areas intend to cut spending on routine operations this year. A poll of NHS finance directors by the King’s Fund found 42 per cent intend to cut or review the level of treatment they provide in coming months.