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This article and the others in the current issues all seem to miss the main role of primary care which is to provide a service to people with health needs or perceived health needs.What started as a good idea as an extra to take on if time and enthusiasm has now become a dominant shadow over every consultation. We are given targets that have a very poor evidence base and that are not met even in controlled clinical trials. It seems very unlikely that those setting these targets have recent experience in primary care with direct ongoing clinical responsibility to 'their' patients. Qof does not just give GP their income but pays for the running of practices
At the same time we are experiencing huge increases in people bypassing primary care and attending hospitals directly, large numbers of doctors choosing to be long term locums or salaried doctors, without responsibility to meet targets.
Many commentators feel primary care is on the brink of imploding, qof is one of the triggers. This is such a shame as the job not only provides 90 % of nhs care but can be one of the best within the nhs.
Competing interests:
My Practice depends on qof income to provide a service to patients and for my own income
Re: Future proofing the Quality and Outcomes Framework
This article and the others in the current issues all seem to miss the main role of primary care which is to provide a service to people with health needs or perceived health needs.What started as a good idea as an extra to take on if time and enthusiasm has now become a dominant shadow over every consultation. We are given targets that have a very poor evidence base and that are not met even in controlled clinical trials. It seems very unlikely that those setting these targets have recent experience in primary care with direct ongoing clinical responsibility to 'their' patients. Qof does not just give GP their income but pays for the running of practices
At the same time we are experiencing huge increases in people bypassing primary care and attending hospitals directly, large numbers of doctors choosing to be long term locums or salaried doctors, without responsibility to meet targets.
Many commentators feel primary care is on the brink of imploding, qof is one of the triggers. This is such a shame as the job not only provides 90 % of nhs care but can be one of the best within the nhs.
Competing interests: My Practice depends on qof income to provide a service to patients and for my own income