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Press release: NHS Employers and GPC conclude evidence-gathering process on QOF14 Aug 2007 NHS Employers and the BMA's General Practitioners Committee (GPC) today announce that they have completed the evidence-gathering phase for the development of QOF. The team of experts appointed by NHS Employers and the BMA to develop the QOF has received 153 submissions from patient groups, national societies and individual GPs on their views about current or future QOF indicators. The greatest number of submissions were from national societies (27%), patient groups (25%), pharmaceutical companies (13%) and individuals (15%).1 The expert panel has assessed each submission against a number of criteria including that the condition they are supporting is common, that its care is something that GPs are responsible for and that there is good quality evidence that if GP practices make realistic changes to the way they work, patient health will improve. Those that required further discussion face-to-face with the expert panel were invited to one of four oral sessions in London, Birmingham and Manchester in May and June. Professor Lester and the team of expert panel members are now preparing a series of reports which will be submitted to the QOF subgroup in the autumn. Professor Helen Lester who leads the expert panel team said: "We had fewer submissions this year than in 2005 but the level of thought and detail has been much greater. In particular we had many more submissions from patient groups, which is exactly what we were hoping to achieve with this process. The oral sessions also worked very well and enabled us to discuss the submissions in depth and clarify which issues the groups felt were most important. We will now use this information to inform the QOF reports." NHS Employers joint-chair of the QOF review team, Dr Adrian Jacobs, said: "The continuing success of QOF depends on it being able to adapt to reflect developments in patient care and changes in the delivery of services. This is why this process of gathering new evidence and the ongoing work of reviewing the evidence base for current indicators is so important. We look forward to the reports by the experts and hope that we will have the opportunity to discuss them in future meetings." GPC Chairman, Dr Laurence Buckman, said: "GPs are rightly proud of what they have been able to deliver through the QOF so far. Patient care has improved because they are receiving evidence-based treatment. Doctor satisfaction has risen as outcomes have improved. Now we have an opportunity to develop QOF further, in line with additional government investment, ensuring it reflects the care that patients need. We must however keep the QOF evidence based so that the health of the population continues to improve. GPs and their practices are ready to play their part for patients. We look forward to working with NHS Employers to develop this method of delivering high quality patient care." Any changes to the QOF will depend on wider discussions between NHS Employers and the GPC about the GMS contract.
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