The number of practices achieving maximum QOF points rose by 2.4% last year, official data shows.
Figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) shows 192 out of 8,123 practices in England were awarded maximum points under the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) in 2011/12, compared to 1.3% of practices (105 out of 8,245) the previous year.
On average, practices achieved 96.9% of the QOF points on offer – up from 94.7% in 2010/11.
The report found of the 14 areas with disease prevalence estimates from QOF patient registers; high blood pressure had the highest overall prevalence at 13.6% (7.6 million) of patients on registers – compared to 13.5% (7.5 million) of patients in 2010/11.
In addition, of the six areas with age-specific patient registers, depression had the highest prevalence at 11.7% (5.1 million) of patients aged 18 and over, up from 11.2% (4.9 million) of patients in 2010/11.
“The figures offer important estimates based on GP patient registers around the prevalence of common chronic conditions,” said HSCIC chief executive Tim Straughan.
“This information points to high blood pressure as the most prevalent condition on the QOF registers in England, while for age-specific registers, depression is the most prevalent among patients aged 18 and over, affecting about one in 10 registered patients of this age.”
