NHS: University Health Centres

Lord Patel Excerpts
Monday 4th July 2011

(13 years, 5 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Earl Howe Portrait Earl Howe
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My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord for introducing this vexed topic into a health Question. It would be improper for me to comment on the deliberations of the Scottish Parliament.

Lord Patel Portrait Lord Patel
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Can the Minister say what assessment has been made of the impact of the QOF on the outcomes for patients, whether university patients or otherwise?

Earl Howe Portrait Earl Howe
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My Lords, there is no doubt that the QOF had many beneficial effects when it first began, and we recognise those. However, there is a general feeling that it needs to evolve and refocus itself more on those things for which it was originally intended, which were to promote quality and better outcomes in patient care.