Question in full:

We are participating in the current prescribing and commissioning QIPP (Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention) incentives but are worried that this could appear as taking a financial benefit to withhold patient care – is this right?

Answer:

There are a variety of opinions on the potential benefits and drawbacks of the recently introduced QIPP scheme and the related incentives. Supporters of the scheme argue that financial incentives will help focus minds and lead to a maximisation of the achievement of QIPP’s objectives. Critics of the scheme have raised concerns that the financial objectives may begin impacting negatively on patient care.

This is essentially a political issue, so any answer to your question would have to be an opinion rather than an objective definitive answer. Ultimately it will be how QIPP works in practice that will determine to what degree it is a success or a failure and whether the financial incentives were well placed or misguided.