The Scotsman

Removal of GP incentives link to fall in performanc­e

- By LUCY CHRISTIE

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.

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