NICE to oversee GP quality indicators

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) will oversee the annual reviewing of Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) indicators for GPs from April 1.

This decision follows a 13-week consultation that included clinicians, patient organisations, NHS commissioners and the public.

A key part of NICE's role will involve the creation of an independent Primary Care Quality and Outcomes Framework Indicator Advisory Committee who will be responsible for reviewing existing indicators and recommending new ones. However, the final say on QOF indicators will be negotiated between the British Medical Association (BMA) and NHS employers.

Commenting on the announcement Val Moore, NICE implementation director said: "The purpose of NICE evidence-based guidance is to support professionals in making best use of NHS resources. It is sometimes confusing for professionals when different pieces of national guidance don't recommend the same things."

As part of its new role, NICE will collate information in order to prioritise new indicators based on evidence of clinical and cost-effectiveness. A facility on the NICE website will allow interested parties to submit potential public health and clinical priority topics. The Advisory Committee will consider these topics and their relative priorities.