The Government has now published the latest NHS Outcomes Framework and introduce 60 new ‘performance indicators’ to grade GPs and hospitals in order to improve the quality of service for patients. This updates the NHS Outcomes Framework published in December 2010 and includes updated definitions for some of the indicators in the framework.
The objective is to provide national accountability for the outcomes and move away from targets (e.g. waiting times) introduced by the last Labour Government. Although, patients will still have the right to treatment within 18 weeks of referral by their GP as set out in the NHS Constitution.
The Government is aiming to publish details of the current performance against the sixty ‘benchmarks’ next week. National targets for improvement will then be set out by the time of the next election. However, today data that compares patients’ experiences at individual GPs’ surgeries, and subsequent recovery times, will be published for the first time.
The key elements of the new Framework are as follows:
- The new ‘performance indicators’ will replace the former target-led system and will include a focus on improving cancer survival and a zero-tolerance approach to hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA
- Patient surveys are to be at the centre of new goals to measure the quality of care received in the NHS in England
- Comprehensive data on hospital death rates, the individual performance of GPs and surgeons and patients’ experiences under their care are to be published in an attempt to improve standards
- The Framework also commits to preventing unnecessary early deaths and enhancing the quality of life for people with long-term conditions
- Furthermore, fewer people with long-term conditions including asthma will be treated in hospitals
In addition to committing to a renewed focus on improving patient results, Andrew Lansley used his speech at Guy’s Hospital today to make two further announcements in relation to giving patients more control over their healthcare. These include:
- A new map of local health services which patients will be able to access through the ‘Any Qualified Provider’ policy starting from April 2012
- A new map of GP practices on NHS Choices which will make it much easier for patients to identify the best GP practice for them
Effectively, from April 2012, patients will be able to see on a new user-friendly map which local services will be available to them through ‘Any Qualified Provider’.
