Quality and Outcomes Framework

Sandra Gidley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to publish on its website a timetable for its review of Quality and Outcomes Framework indicators.

Mr. Mike O'Brien
The independent Advisory Committee met in July and agreed principles for its review of Quality and Outcomes Framework indicators. Details of these discussions have been published on the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence website and a copy placed in the Library.

Sandra Gidley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the remit of the Quality and Outcomes indicator pilots for the Quality and Outcomes Framework will be.

Mr. Mike O'Brien
Details of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) indicator pilots are set out in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s (NICE’S) interim process guide for the development of QOF indicators. This guide has been published on the NICE website and a copy placed in the Library.

Sandra Gidley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health for which diseases pilot indicator studies will be conducted for inclusion in the 2011-12 Quality and Outcomes Framework .

Mr. Mike O'Brien
The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence have published details of indicators currently in development and for further review on their website. A copy has been placed in the Library.

Sandra Gidley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanism exists for stakeholders to (a) contribute ideas for the expansion of or an amendment to Quality and Outcomes Framework indicators and (b) suggest new areas for pilot indicator development.

Mr. Mike O'Brien
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence opened an online suggestions facility on 15 September to enable any stakeholder to propose new a topic—or changes to an existing topic—for Quality and Outcomes Framework. The cut-off date for the current round of submissions was 13 October. After this date, there will be a further opportunity to suggest topics in spring 2010.