Pharmacists can help GPs earn QOF points
Pharmacists could play a key role in helping GPs achieve maximum points in the Quality
and Outcomes Framework (QOF), the reward scheme for practices under the new general medical services contract.
Sandra Prater, a clinical pharmacist and supplementary prescriber at
Monkfield Medical Practice in Cambourne, Cambridgeshire, believes that
the QOF attracts GPs’ attention, not just for the financial rewards
but also in demonstrating quality patient care and improvements made
over the year.
“QOF helps pharmacists direct their activity within primary care
more towards patients, using clinical expertise in chronic disease management
and treatments, and working with patients in reaching blood pressure
and cholesterol targets,” she told The Journal. She added that
her work setting up a review and recall service for patients with cardiovascular
disease has helped the practice to reach the QOF targets and established
a system that will continue to do this.
“It also gave me the opportunity to involve myself in the process
and establish a pharmacist role with patients as a supplementary prescriber,” she
went on.
However, Ms Prater warns that each GP practice is different. “Pharmacists
will need to find out what the practice needs and be creative in meeting
their needs and developing a role for the pharmacist within that,” she
advised.
Last month, statistics published by the Information Centre for Health
and Social Care showed that during 2005–06, the average score was
96 per cent of the available points, but less than one in 10 practices
achieved 100 per cent. The more points a practice achieves, the more
money it earns. |
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