GP Contract Quality and Outcomes Framework

QOF points for palliative care and GSF

Following the recent changes to the quality and outcomes framework (QOF2) of the GP contract, GP practice teams will now be awarded points for palliative care.

Practices who now claim these new QOF palliative care points are in fact taking on the first level of GSF or C1 and C2 (having a register and holding a meeting to discuss these patients).

GSF Programme Current Activity QOF Palliative Care

Below are all the tools to enable practices to begin this work and claim the new palliative care points:

Brief Introductory Guidance Paper on QOF Palliative Care
This brief paper (2 sides of A4) could be sent by facilitators or PCTs to all the GP practice teams in their area, for the attention particularly of the practice managers, as an introduction to the new QOF Palliative care points, and how to claim them.

A Full GSF Guidance Paper on Primary Palliative care for QOF
To include all of the above in one larger document, with other guidance and advice on moving on with GSF once this first stage is established. Please note that this document is currently being updated.

A Prognostic Indicator Guidance Paper
This useful summary paper helps with the identification of patients in need of palliative/supportive care, especially those with non-cancer illnesses. This will enable more patients in the last year of life to be included in the register and to anticipate in general terms their needs and likely support required. (Prognostic Scoring Paper)

The GSF Primary Care Briefing Paper / Quality Improvement Programme (QIP Flyer)
This explains more about what GSF is and how to do it once the QOF points are established and describes the levels of adoption.

A summary of all QOF2 points relating to palliative care, supportive care, cancer care
The table includes points that can be claimed when fully implementing GSF.

The GSF Supportive Care Register templates SCR1 SCR2

Suggested tried and tested templates to use in your palliative care register – SCR1 as a summary sheet and SCR2 (Alternative SCR2) for each individual patient.

GSF Registration form - for practices interested in registering to implement GSF.

Once this first stage of GSF or the claiming of these QOF points is established within teams i.e. the identification of patients and setting up of palliative care register and MDT meetings , then practices can develop their palliative care further using other documents of interest from the relevant sections of this website.

NB If you wish to register your practice for the GSF Programme to build on this work, to be able to access further resources, events and discussion and learn of other developments such as with Care Homes etc, then please complete the registration form above. Please copy it to your local GSF Facilitator or End of Life Care Facilitator - if in doubt contact the GSF central team for advice.

We will do our best in the National GSF Centre to support all practices attempting to develop this area of community palliative care, not just those registered for the GSF programme, so feedback of your queries and requests is welcomed.

We look forward to hearing from you, and to supporting you in developing your palliative care, so that together we can provide a ‘gold standard’ of care for all patients nearing the end of their lives.

Please contact us at the National GSF Centre

Local Enhanced Services

We can send examples of locally enhanced services developed by some PCTs to support full implementation of GSF on request.