GPs making a point on how their patients are faring in surgeries

PATIENTS in Cambridge enjoy above-average care, according to new Government statistics.

GP surgeries have been assessed with points for the first time, with checks covering all aspects of care from diagnosis and ongoing management of conditions to record-keeping, communication and the overall experience of patients.

The average number of points achieved by surgeries in Cambridge was 969.8 points out of the available 1,050 - above the national average of 959 points. The 17 Cambridge surgeries amassed 16,487 between them - 92.4 per cent of those available.

Nationally, surgeries collected 91 per cent of the points available to them.

The story was similar in South Cambridgeshire where the 17 surgeries collected 92.3 per cent of the available points, with each one achieving 968.6 points on average.

Clare Morris, Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire primary care trusts' assistant director of primary care, welcomed the figures, which came about through the new Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF).

She said: "It is a very positive thing for general practice and I think they particularly give this area due recognition for the good-quality work that does go on.

"We were pleased but it was not a surprise to us. We know we have good quality primary care services in our area and historically we have invested well in primary care. It is gratifying to have good levels of performance but it was what we were expecting."

The QOF was introduced as part of the new GPs contract system, which came into effect in April, 2004. It operates as an incentive system with money available per point. For 2004/05 - the figures were released yesterday (Thursday, 01 September) - about £75 per point was available, although surgeries' final funding was adjusted to take into account the size and health of its population. This year, each point is worth about £120.

Top of the charts in Cambridge was the Queen Edith Medical Practice, Queen Edith's Way. It achieved 99.8 per cent of available points, taking 1,048 out of 1,050. In South Cambs, the top practice was The Surgery, Alms Hill, Bourn, which took 1048.5 points - 99.9 per cent.

Dr Alice Hodkinson, a GP at the Queen Edith practice, said: "We built on things already in place and it was a case of tweaking things to fit with what was expected by the new contract.

"Everyone in the practice has been working hard to get such good figures."

Further down the list in Cambridge was the practice at 279-281 Mill Road which achieved 822.7 points (78.4 per cent) and Lensfield Road Medical Practice with 873.6 points (83.2 per cent). Those achieving below the national average in South Cambs were the Health Centre at Hanover House, Bar Hill (66.6 per cent), Monkfield Medical Practice, Sackville Lane, Great Cambourne (78.6 per cent) and The Surgery, Boxworth End, Swavesey (88 per cent).

Mrs Morris said the key to high scores was often whether the practice had someone driving the scheme forward and making sure data was collected appropriately.

Dr Mike Knapton, medical director for both PCTs and a Cambridge GP, said: "We are delighted the information has reinforced the feedback we have received through patient surveys that the quality of service provided by local GPs in Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire is of the highest standard.

"However, we should not be complacent. Given the significant sums of money invested in our primary care services as a result of the QOF, we will continue to work with local practices to further improve services and access to them."

The average number of points per practice was 1,004.9 in the East Cambridgeshire and Fenland PCT area, 1,025.3 in Huntingdonshire, 1,003.4 in West Suffolk, 990.4 in Royston, Buntingford and Bishop's Stortford and 1,024.9 in Uttlesford.

As reported in the Cambridge Evening News