Many practices still rate PBC data as poor

More than four out of ten practices still rate the quality of information they receive for practice-based commissioning as poor or very poor, according to the latest Deaprtment of Health survey.

The findings from the latest quarterly survey conducted between January and March this year, show that GP practice satstisfaction with the quality of information provided for PBC is getting slightly worse. A total of 43% of practices, compared to 41% between October and December 2007, rated information provision as poor or very poor.

The survey also found that 39%, compared to 38% last time, described the format of information as poor or very poor and 41%, compared to 40% last time, believed the ferquency of information provided was poor or very poor.

Dr Michael Dixon, chair of the NHS Alliance, claimed PBC was being sabotaged by the failure to provide GP practices with accurate and meaningful data.

He said: “Despite small but significant improvements in the numbers of practices who are commissioning new services and those who have agreed a commissioning plan with their primary care trust, PBC cannot properly get off the ground until commissioners have access to accurate, meaningful, real-time information. That is absolutely basic.

 “Whatever the difficulty is, firm action must now be taken to put it right.”

The survey of almost 2000 GP practices also found that almost half of those who took part (49%) rated the quality of managerial support for PBC from their PCT as poor or very poor. Around four in the practices rated their PCT’s managerial support for PBC as good.

Other findings included a rise in the number of practices commissioning new services through PBC (30%) and a slight increase in the percentage of practices agreeing that PBC has improved quality of care (16%).

Links

DH quarterly survey on practice-based commissioning

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Over 40 per cent of practices say PBC data poor