Eleven QoF indicators up for retirement

Eleven indicators are likely to be retired from the Quality and Outcomes Framework next year if recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence are implemented.

NICE’s QoF Advisory Committee has identified four indicators for retirement in addition to seven indicators due for retirement before change was postponed because of the swine flu pandemic.

Minutes from the latest meeting of the Advisory Committee, just published, show that four indicators covering CHD, epilepsy and mental health were considered to be no longer needed.

They are cholesterol checks for patients with CHD, recording seizure frequency and medication review for patients with epilepsy, and following up patients with mental illness who do not attend for their annual review.

The potential indicators for retirement will be the subject of negotiation between the BMA’s GP negotiators and NHS Employers in the autumn, as will the potential menu of new indicators published by NICE last week.

Potential new indicators include two new indicators on foot examination to improve diabetes related foot care, a new indicator to highlight people with a treatable cause of dementia, and six new indicators to improve patient care for patients with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other psychoses.

NICE said the final menu of new indicators for 2011-12 will be published by NHS Employers in winter 2010, following the negotiations.

Dr Fergus Macbeth, director of NICE’s Centre for Clinical Practice, said the menu of potential indicators for the 2011-12 QoF highlighted clinical areas that evidence shows might benefit from a QoF indicator.

He added: “Throughout the NICE process for QoF we have consulted widely with professional groups, patients and community and voluntary organisations in the development of these indicators because we value their input highly.

"The final menu of indicators will help standardise current practice and deliver the best health outcomes for GP patients."