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Bankers’ bonuses style performance pay for GPs could be putting patients’ lives at risk, research has warned.
The controversial “pay for performance” scheme, which was introduced under Tony Blair’s premiership, has been declared an “incredibly expensive experiment” which has failed. The scheme sees GPs receive financial rewards for meeting a variety of targets related to certain medical conditions.
An international study published by the Lancet medical journal has reviewed the scheme’s effects in comparison with 26 other countries and found that for the conditions within the scheme’s remit, no discernible benefits have been noted. Furthermore, for conditions for which GPs do not receive bonuses, death rates have actually increased slightly. These include pneumonia, osteoarthritis and hip fractures.
Katherine Murphy, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, told The Independent : “GPs need to focus on all their patients and not just those patients where they can measure or record data and get paid for it.
Giving doctors bribes to focus on specific conditions is morally wrong and ethically wrong
<p>Katherine Murphy, the Patients Association</p>
“Giving doctors bribes to focus on specific conditions is morally wrong and ethically wrong. GPs must focus on patient care and outcomes- their priorities should not be compromised by financial incentives.”
The scheme was introduced in 2004 and saw GPs’ earnings rise by more than 25 per cent to £100,000 per annum on average. It is believed the scheme costs in the region of £1 billion per year.
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A spokesperson for the Department for Health said: “We recognise GPs are under a lot of pressure and have already revised the Qualities and Outcome Framework (QOF) to remove 10 minute minimum slots for booked appointments, as well as reducing unnecessary paperwork for GPs so that they can spend more time with patients.
“NHS England has agreed to undertake a review of QOF in the coming year, to see how we can best manage the system for the future.”
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