Welsh GP practices have increased their average achievement in the Quality and Outcomes Framework to more than 1000 points, newly published results reveal.
Practice by practice figures for the second year of the QoF released by the Welsh Assembly show that all 500 practices in Wales took part in the voluntary scheme and achieved an average 1003 points out of a possible 1050. The achievement is worth around £125,000 to a practice with average list size and disease prevalence.
Last year Welsh GPs earned an average of 949 points, the lowest of the four countries in the UK, but against a background of the highest disease prevalence rates.
Only Scotland has so far published its results this year, with the average Scottish GP practice earning 1026 points.
Wales has published its figures alongside a warning that comparative analysis of the data should take account of a range of factors including the underlying social and demographic characteristics of the practices concerned.
It adds: “The 2005/06 information does not allow analysis of the extent to which service delivery improved during 2005/06, and that it is possible that relatively low-scoring practices could actually have seen significant improvements. Any such analysis can only be undertaken in the light of local circumstances.”
Northern Ireland and England have yet to publish QoF data for 2005/06 but are expected to do so shortly with English figures due for publication on 28 September.
GP newspaper Pulse has reported this week that there could be major changes to the QoF from 2008 with new disease areas and tougher thresholds. The British Medical Association’s General Practitioner Committee has insisted that no further major changes to QoF will be supported without new money or the dropping of existing areas included in the framework.
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Quality and Outcomes Framework results in Wales for 2005/06