QOF Decision Announced
The National Osteoporosis Society is delighted to announce that the content of QOF (Quality Outcomes Framework) has been announced and osteoporosis indicators have been included. This means that GP practices will receive funding for:
- Producing a register of patients:
- aged 50-74 years with a record of a fragility fracture after 1 April 2012 and a diagnosis of osteoporosis confirmed on DEXA scan; or
- aged 75 years and over with a record of a fragility fracture after 1 April 2012
- Ensuring that patients on the register who are aged between 50 and 74 years, with a fragility fracture, in whom osteoporosis is confirmed on DEXA scan, are treated with an appropriate bone-sparing agent
- Ensuring that patients aged 75 years and over with a fragility fracture are treated with an appropriate bone-sparing agent.
Three QOF points have been awarded for each of these areas. The amount of funding per QOF point for 2012/13 has not yet been disclosed.
What this means: From April 2012, GP practices will receive funding for identifying people who have had a fragility fracture and making sure they have a DEXA scan. They will receive additional funding for making sure that people with osteoporosis are prescribed a bone protecting treatment.
Audits have found that the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of osteoporosis and fractures is relatively poor in UK primary care. The inclusion of osteoporosis in QOF has the potential to transform the care that GPs provide for older patients who are at risk of broken bones.
Our next steps: Our new website, ‘Osteoporosis resources for primary care’ will provide clear, concise information for GPs and practice teams, helping them to provide excellent care for their patients and meet the QOF indicators. The website will be launched early in 2012. Health professionals who would like to receive updates when the website goes live should send their name, role and email address to: qof@nos.org.uk
Why is QOF so important? QOF rewards good practice in GP surgeries. GPs are given a proportion of their funding for meeting the criteria outlined in the QOF. One section of the QOF outlines a set of criteria called ‘clinical indicators’ which relates to specific conditions such as asthma, heart disease and stroke. The QOF has been found to be a successful way of making national improvements to the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions, as the majority of practices will work to meet the criteria.
For more information: Please contact Anne Thurston, the National Osteoporosis Society’s Health Sector Liaison Officer, by telephone (01761 473 254) or email a.thurston@nos.org.uk.
Letter from Claire Severgnini, Chief Executive, National Osteoporosis Society
This is something the National Osteoporosis Society has been campaigning for over many years, more recently through our 25 words for a breakfree future campaign this summer when we hand delivered over 1,000 responses to 10 Downing Street.’ Many thanks to all those who contributed to this.
Reaching this milestone proves that your support is helping us to campaign for better services which will ultimately ensure that everybody with, or at risk of, fragile bones has access to the dedicated care, support and treatment they deserve to stay break free. Together, we create a strong voice which is being heard at the highest levels of Government, driving up standards and improving services. Thank you for your continued support.
If anybody would like information about joining the National Osteoporosis Society ask any of the committee, or look at their excellent website.