Love it or hate it, QOF is still here for England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. Although, QOF has not been in operation in Scotland since 2016, that doesn't mean that every GPN in the UK does not have a duty to improve the care patients receive.
The objective of QOF as tool is used to quantify how practices are improving the care they provide to their patients, based on several indicators across a range of key areas of clinical care and public health. Practices are then rewarded financially for the quality of the care.
To get the maximum points (a financial reward), many of the clinical indicators sit within the domain of GPNs, yet I wonder how many of you have been involved in the QOF discussions.
For many GPNs, their involvement is only sought in the last three months, and, of course, the last-minute dash to get patients in, templates updated, supporting patients to self-care, documenting evidence of improving care and all by 31 March.
QOF still uses disease registers for the purpose of calculating disease prevalence. GPNs need to be aware that the £/point value for each clinical area is impacted by the adjusted practice disease factor (APDF). This is calculated using the disease registers. Therefore, not maintaining/updating the registers could result in a reduction in QOF income.
There are still 635 total points in QOF and the value of a point in 2023/24 is £213.43. I will let you do your own maths
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If you are the lead nurse and not already a part of QOF discussions, I would strongly recommend that you ask to be involved. Arrange a meeting with practice manager/GPs. And calling all GPNs, arrange a meeting with your lead nurses. Start the conversations early, and together you can plan who takes responsibility for each clinical domain, and who in the multiprofessional team can support you.
QOF is not just about points, it identifies gaps in service provision and that can only be a good thing. If GPs worked closer with GPNs all year round, patients would receive improved patient care, QOF would no longer be feared. The financial reward would increase, and who knows you may receive a financial award.
Please share your stories and thoughts both positive and negative, we would love to hear from you.