News / Department rejects doubt on incentives

The Department of Health has dismissed Commons health committee criticism that it is relying on financial incentives alone to improve quality of care.

As the NHS gears up for the first year of the commissioning for quality and innovation initiative (CQUIN), the Department said it had no doubts about financial incentives.

Responding to the committee’s report on Lord Darzi’s Next Stage Review, it said rewards were a small part of a wider package and represented just one part of its quality framework, which complemented other drivers such as giving staff time to focus on improving quality.

The committee criticised NHS North West’s Advancing Quality (AQ) incentive scheme, saying it may not suit the English health service because it was developed in the US.

It also questioned whether the NHS was adequately prepared to introduce patient reported outcome measures, which will inform incentive payments.

While it backed financial incentives to improve the quality of care in principle, it recommended the Department proceed with caution and roll out incentive schemes only after piloting and rigorous evaluation.

The Department said it would assess the impact of the CQUIN payment framework in line with independent evaluation of AQ.