Removal of GP incentives link to fall in performance
The removal of financial incentives for GPS has been linked with a decline in performance by a new study.
Researchers said an “immediate” reduction recorded across 12 quality measures they studied may be partly accounted for by changes to doctors’ methods of documentation. However, they said declines in measures involving laboratory testing suggested the removal of incentives had changed the actual care delivered to patients.
The findings were made by a team from the universities of Dundee and Cambridge, and staff from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice).
The NHS implemented the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) in 2004 to reward UK practices for providing quality care.