Top marks for GPs

27/06/05

DOCTORS across Cotswold and Vale are celebrating success in treating patients with conditions ranging from heart disease and stroke to asthma and epilepsy.

In the first 'quality and outcomes framework' results since the new GP contract was introduced last April, GP practices within Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust (PCT) were awarded an average 1,016 points (out of a possible 1,050).

Lechlade Medical Centre scored an impressive 1,049.9 points, with Minchinhampton Surgery awarded 1,049.96 points, the Phoenix Surgery in Cirencester awarded 1,046.3 points, Tetbury Surgery scoring 1045.89 and Rendcomb Surgery, 1,045.85.

"These results prove definitively what we always understood - that GPs in Cotswold and Vale PCT provide an excellent standard of patient care," says Chris Morton, Assistant Director of Primary Care for Cotswold and Vale.

"The new system focuses on ten chronic disease categories and aims to reward best practice through a system of points earned against clinical targets."

The Trust's 33 GP practices were assessed by GPs from other practices, working with managers and lay assessors, including members of the local Patient and Public Involvement Forum.

As part of the new GP contract, points awarded in the assessment provide the base for the new GP pay deal. The idea is to provide a financial incentive for achieving quality results to each GP practice.

Trust bosses are delighted with the results - but say the impressive success of local GPs has left the PCT slightly out of pocket.

"We were funded centrally for £1.7 million - equating to an average of 750 points per practice," said Mr Morton. "But, because our practices have dramatically exceeded that expectation, the total payment to GPs from the scheme this year is £2.5 milllion.

"All of our practices will have had to invest time and money to achieve these results, and we congratulate them on an excellent standard of achievement, which is good news for our patients in Cotswold and Vale."