High level QOF data release delayed

An early release of provisional high-level Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) data for GP practices in England on 5 August has been cancelled and one full version will be released at the end of the month.

The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) announced: “The decision has been taken because of the large number of requests from GP practices for changes to the data between achievement declarations in March and final agreement with PCTs in June.

“This will help users by ensuring that information provided reflects the agreed data as accurately as possible. The final data will reflect practice-requested adjustments agreed by PCTs and will be published on 31 August 2005.”

The decision to publish detailed QOF figures showing the achievements of individual practices and payments made to each practice has been controversial. Some GP leaders have voiced concerns about the potential of the results to be misinterpreted.

Scotland published its QOF data online in May. Information on the site includes the names of individual practices, the total number of points earned, the total payment the practice received and a breakdown of how much each practice scored in each of the clinical indicators and the non-clinical domains.

The announcement about the English figures was included in a 12 month plan just released from the HSCIC which gives a schedule of statistics due to be released.on subjects ranging from NHS pay to cancelled operations.

Links

Scotland publishes QOF data online