Northern Ireland Quality and Outcomes Framework (Qof) Information 2018/19

The Department of Health today published the achievement figures from the Northern Ireland Quality and Outcomes Framework 2018/19.

This is the fifteenth year of operation of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), which is a system to remunerate general practices for providing good quality care to their patients, and to help fund work to further improve the quality of health care delivered. It is a fundamental part of the General Medical Services (GMS) Contract, which was introduced on 1st April 2004.

The QOF measures achievement against a range of evidence-based indicators, with points and payments awarded according to the level of achievement. The framework has four main components:

• Clinical Indicators
• Public Health Indicators (including additional services)
• Patient Experience
• Records & Systems Indicators      

Key Points

• The average achievement in Northern Ireland was 539.0 of the 547 points available (98.5%).  Achievement across LCGs has been historically very similar, with levels in 2018/19 ranging from 98.0% in Belfast LCG to 99.1% in Western LCG. 

• Of the clinical registers collected for QOF that measure disease prevalence, prevalence was highest for hypertension (13.79%) and lowest for Osteoporosis (0.33%).

• The average points achieved in the main domains were 374.1 points (98.4%) for Clinical, 33.5 points (95.6%) for Public Health, 13.6 points (97.1%) for Public Health - Additional Services, 18.0 points (100%) for Patient Experience and 99.9 (99.9%) for Records & Systems.

• Achievement in the clinical areas ranged from 90.4% in Smoking to 100% in Atrial Fibrillation.  There were no new clinical areas introduced in 2018/19.

Notes to editors: 

1. The QOF data tables and reports are published by the Department of Health (NI) via the Statistics Section of the website.  

2. This is the fifteenth year of operation of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF). Results from previous years are available online.

3. Despite being a voluntary arrangement, all practices in Northern Ireland have participated in the QOF since its introduction in April 2004. An agreement regarding QOF achievement was in place between the HSCB and 7 practices in relation to issues which the HSCB recognised would impact on QOF achievement in 2018/19.  These issues related to practice closures, dispersals and mergers and the subsequent impact on practices.  These 7 practices are excluded from all analysis.

4. For statistical or data queries, please contact Information & Analysis Directorate on 02890 522160.

5. For policy queries, please contact General Medical Services Branch, Primary Care Directorate on 02890 520241.
6. For media enquiries please contact the Department of Health Press Office on 028 9052 0575 or email pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk . For out of hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110.
7. Follow us on Twitter @healthdpt

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