Facilitator Handbook 2005 - PRIMIS

Supporting Quality Outcomes
PRIMIS Facilitator Handbook
Supporting Quality Outcomes
Background
The new GMS contract represents a landmark in the development of UK general practice.
It provides demonstrable benefits to GMS practices to primary healthcare professionals, to
the NHS and - most importantly - to patients. These, coupled with the largest sustained
investment in primary care ever made, will create the platform for a step change in
improved health and health services, boosting morale and creating greater and fairer
rewards for GPs.
Department of Health press release
http://www.nhsconfed.org/press/releases/walesgms.asp
The contract provides a major focus on quality and outcomes. Practices have the opportunity
to receive additional funding to support aspiration to achievement of a range of quality
standards. The new quality framework rewards practices for delivering quality care with extra
incentives to encourage even higher standards.
The four domains included in the Quality and Outcomes Framework
• Clinical standards, covering coronary heart disease including left ventricular
dysfunction, stroke or transient ischaemic attacks, hypertension, diabetes,
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), epilepsy, cancer, mental health,
hypothyroidism and asthma
• Organisational standards, covering records and information about patients,
information for patients, education and training, practice management and
medicines management
• Experience of patients covering the services provided, how they are provided
and their involvement in service development plans. This includes patient
satisfaction surveys and consultation length
• Additional services covering cervical screening, child health surveillance,
maternity services and contraceptive services
The framework contains four domains as outlined in the box below. Each domain contains a
range of areas described by key indicators, which describe different aspects of performance.
The aim of this training module is to provide information facilitators with an understanding of
the implications of the Quality and Outcomes Framework, to explain the key terminology, and
to provide knowledge of the structure, process and outcomes of each clinical domain.
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