GP Access Survey

In April 2008, two new indicators were introduced into the Patient Experience domain of the QOF. These are designed to reward practices according to their patients' reported experience of access to the practice, specifically in relation to quick and convenient access to consultations with health professionals, both within 2 working days and in advance of this time. The new indicators for Scotland are:

PE7 The percentage of patients who, in the appropriate national survey, indicate they were able to obtain a consultation with an appropriate health professional within 2 working days (Range 70-90%, 23.5 points)

PE8 The percentage of patients who, in the appropriate national survey, indicate they were able to book an appointment with a GP more than 2 days ahead. (Range 60-90%, 35 points)

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What is the QOF?

The Quality & Outcomes Framework (QOF) is a system to remunerate general practices for providing good quality care to their patients, and to help fund work to further improve the quality of health care delivered. It is a fundamental part of the new General Medical Services (GMS) contract, introduced on 1st April 2004. The core philosophy underpinning the QOF is that incentives are the best method of resourcing work, driving up standards, and recognising practices' achievements.

The QOF measures achievement against a range of evidence-based indicators, with points and payments awarded according to the level of achievement. It is a voluntary part of the new GMS contract; general practices can aspire to achieve all, part, or none of the points available in QOF (although to date, most practices with a GMS contract have participated fully). Additionally, practices with other contract types ("17c" or "2c") may choose to participate in the QOF.

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How will the survey be carried out?

In October 2008 the Scottish Government will send a letter to the homes of patients selected to take part in the survey asking them to complete a short questionnaire asking about their experiences over the last year gaining access to GP Services.

There will be no charge to patients to return their completed questionnaire as a freepost envelope will be provided.

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How can we be sure that the survey is fair and unbiased?

A steering group, including representation from the Scottish Government (SG), the Scottish General Practitioners Committee of the BMA (SGPC) and National Services Scotland (ISD and PSD), has been set up to oversee the development and administration of this survey. They have worked to ensure the design and analysis of the survey questions and its administration is as robust as possible without sampling an inappropriately large sample of the population.

IPSOS MORI were commissioned to cognitively test the questions and covering letter, in order to ensure patients understand what is being asked.

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How were patients selected to take part?

Patients were selected randomly from the Community Health Index database to provide a representative sample. The number of patients included in the survey was calculated at the outset to maximise accuracy of results for each GP Practice. The sample was extracted by Informational Serices Division (ISD) of NHSScotland.

Information which was used from the CHI database for patients selected to take part include: CHI number, GP Practice, patient name, patient address, date of birth, gender.

No other personal data or clinical information regarding patient health or consultations has been provided in relation to this survey.

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Can patient confidentiality be guaranteed?

Confidentiality of patients' details and survey responses is taken very seriously and this survey has been administered within the law and the requirements for the Data Protection Act 1998 have been upheld.

Once individual responses have been captured the information will be analysed in an anonymous format to produce results for each General Practice.

Safeguard will be put in place to ensure there would be no disclosure of individual results at any stage of our information publication.

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How can I find out the results from the survey?

The results will be published in September 2009 at www.scotland.gov.uk. Practice achievement for the indicators will be published in September 2009 with all QOF indicators on the Information Services Division site http://www.isdscotland.org.

Payment will be made in April 2009 through QMAS along with other payments your practice is due.

Results from the survey will be published by the Scottish Government in Summer 2009 at www.scotland.gov.uk.

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How will GP Practices receive payments for these indicators?

GP Practices will receive payments based on survey results. These payments will be made along with other QOF payments in the quarter April-June 2009.

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What if I receive complaints about this survey from patients?

Hopefully this will not happen. We have taken steps to ensure the survey questionnaire and letter which are sent to patients have been well designed.

However if you do receive complaints from patients please advise them on the various communication channels which have been set up with regard to this survey:

The website provides a detailed Frequently Asked Question section for patients. This may provide them with the required information to ease their concern.
Alternatively they may wish to phone the helpline. The number for this will be sent to survey recipients and will be available on the website when the survey goes live.
Queries can be e-mailed to us at GPAccess@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

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What about patients in our practice who are not fluent in English?

In addition to English, the GP Access Questionnaire will be available in seven other Scottish Community languages. To request any of these, all patients will have to do is tick a box on the back of the letter and return it in the envelope provided.

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What size of sample will be used?

Approximately 10% of the Scottish population (c.550,000) will be surveyed. However, for each practice, the proportion of their patients surveyed will be decided on the basis of practice size to ensure that robust results can be obtained across all practices. Thus some larger practices will have fewer than 10% patients surveyed and some smaller ones may have practically all of them surveyed.

The Scottish Government

Health

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