An introduction to NICE's new role in QOF
From April 1 NICE assumed its new role overseeing the development of Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) indicators.
NICE is now responsible for producing an annual 'menu' of new, evidence-based clinical and cost-effective indicators where there is a strong case for encouraging uptake of good practice. NICE will also recommend whether or not indicators should continue to be part of the QOF - for example, where the activity being measured has become part of standard clinical practice, there would no longer be a need to provide a financial incentive. The final decision on which indicators are included in the QOF will continue to be decided by NHS Employers, on behalf of the Department of Health, the British Medical Association (BMA) and the General Practitioners Committee (GPC).
From 1 June the new NICE-led QOF process will be supported by Dr Tim Stokes who will be taking up the post of NICE's consultant clinical advisor for the QOF. Dr Stokes will be working with the rest of the NICE QOF team to provide clinical leadership and quality assurance for the programme, including the identification and prioritisation of topics for consideration by the independent Advisory Committee as potential QOF Indicators.
Dr Stokes will also be working closely with GP academic Professor Helen Lester, in her role as lead for the recently announced consortium (consisting of the National Primary Care Research and Development Centre (NPCRDC)/York Health Economics Consortium (YHEC)/Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)) commissioned by NICE to develop and review QOF indicators recommended by the Advisory Committee.
As part of NICE's new role we will also aim to ensure that stakeholders (professional groups, patients, community and voluntary organisations) from all participating countries have a clear opportunity to contribute to the development of future QOF indicators. This will include allowing interested parties to submit ideas for priority topics via the NICE website, as well as submitting comments on proposed indicators during the consultation phase of their development.
These new changes recognise the importance of ensuring that the process for prioritising new areas for indicator-development is as open and transparent as possible. By making these significant changes it is hoped that QOF indicators will continue to support healthcare professionals in delivering outcomes to patients that are among the best in the world.
Further information on NICE's new role in the QOF, including information on the recently announced Primary Care Indicator Advisory Committee and the NPCRDC/YHEC/RCGP consortium supporting our work, is available on the NICE website by clicking on the following link: http://www.nice.org.uk/aboutnice/qof/qof.jsp.
This page was last updated: 07 September 2009
