BMJ  2007;335:523 (15 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.39329.384329.BE

Editorials

Problems with performance related pay in primary care

Payments should be simplified and based more on disease treatment and prevention and less on risk factor measurement

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

General practice in the United Kingdom has the largest healthcare pay for performance programme in the world—the quality and outcomes framework (QOF).¹ By earning the maximum number of performance indicator "points," an average sized practice can earn about £125 000 (185 000; $252 000) in addition to its usual sources of income. In this week's BMJ, Guthrie and colleagues discuss the effectiveness of the system in relation to the management of cardiovascular disease. They show how general practices can earn many points and extra payments without this necessarily indicating a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease.²

For example, a practice could receive nine points (each worth about £125) for generating a list of patients with hypertension. The completeness and accuracy of this list might be subject to external audit by the Primary Care Organisation. An extra 30 points would be earned if 90% or more of such . . . [Full text of this article]

Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London EC1M 6BQ

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Twisselmann, B. (2007). Summary of responses. BMJ 335: 627-628 [Full text]  

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Richard M Vautrey
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