HFMA response / Response to the consultation on the role of incentives in general practice

NHS England issued a consultation on the role of incentives in general practice, which closed on 7 March 2024.  This consultation asks for feedback on the quality and outcomes framework (QOF) and the investment and impact fund (IIF), which are the two main schemes at present. It is divided into three sections, asking for:

• feedback on the role and nature of incentive schemes in general practice, with a focus on the current scope of the QOF and the IIF
• comments on possible changes in scope of incentive schemes beyond clinical indicators
• input on reducing the administrative burden associated with the schemes and enhancing the clinician’s experience of delivering it.

The HFMA submitted a response to the consultation on 5 March 2024. The response is based on discussions with members of the HFMA’s ICB Finance Group, System Finance Special Interest Group, and Policy and Research Committee. In summary we support the use of incentives in general practice. We recommend that they should be adaptable at a local level, that they could do more to help reduce health inequalities, and that they should be simple and designed to minimise administrative burden.