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‘QOF points were never done in the most transparent, evidence-based way,’ Lord Darzi told the House of Commons’ health select committee yesterday.

Lord Darzi said NICE would decide what should be in the quality framework by reviewing evidence and weighting health interventions according to their impact on the ‘health of the nation’ and cost effectiveness. Interventions that score highest on these criteria would be prioritised for inclusion, he said.

Plans to re-focus the QOF on prevention and wellbeing were outlined in the NHS Next Stage Review.

He told the committee this ‘will be part of QOF’, and added: ‘I can’t believe it’s going to be extra points in the QOF.’

Once NICE had made recommendations for reworking the quality framework, it would be up to NHS Employers and the BMA to negotiate these into the contract, Lord Darzi said.

Patient-reported outcome measures – reports by patients suggesting how their health could be improved – could also come into the framework, he admitted.

If work being done in primary care ‘includes interventions in which the patient experience matters, then the answer is yes’, he said.

nick.bostock@haymarket.com

Video player of Lord Darzi addressing the health select committee: NHS Next Stage Review 

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