Written question asked by Jane Griffiths (Labour) on Monday, 21 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 April 2005. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Monday, 4 April 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce (a) inflammatory arthritis and (b) psoriatic arthritis into the Quality and Outcome Frameworks of general practitioners' General Medical Services contracts.

Answer: Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce (a) inflammatory arthritis and (b) psoriatic arthritis into the quality and outcome frameworks of general practitioners' general medical services contracts. [223626] Mr. Hutton: The national quality and outcomes framework (QOF) is under review. The review will include an independent expert group advising on the clinical evidence to support any changes to the current scheme. As part of that review, the Department will be submitting evidence to the expert group to ensure that the Government's priorities for improving the care delivered to patients by primary care practitioners is secured. The expert group will then give advice to the national health service employers, who negotiate changes to the general practitioner contract on behalf of the Department and the British Medical Association about changes that may be made to the QOF for implementation from April 2006.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 432 c1241W; 223626
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Contracts Health services General practitioners Standards Arthritis
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk