“No convincing evidence” that QOF improves care of patients with long term illness

England’s incentives that pay GPs for performance have not delivered better care for people with long term conditions, a systematic review of evidence has found.1

The study said that there was “no convincing evidence” that the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) influenced integration or coordination of care, self care or patients’ experiences, or improved any other outcomes for these patients. Rather, QOF may have “negative effects,” the reviewers said, and abolishing it may allow practices “to prioritise other activities which could lead to better care.”

But they warned that GPs would need to be assured of a stable income if the scheme were scrapped, to protect care of patients and practices’ recruitment.

Reacting to the study’s findings, Richard Vautrey, chair of the BMA’s …