Skip to main content
Department of Health Department of Health An Roinn Sláinte Männystrie O Pouste

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Topics
  • Publications
  • Consultations
  • Contact

Translation help

Translate this page

Select a language

  • Arabic — عربي
  • Chinese (Simplified) — 中文简体
  • Chinese (Traditional) — 中文繁體
  • Dutch — Nederlands
  • Filipino — Filipino
  • French — Français
  • German — Deutsch
  • Hungarian — Magyar
  • Irish — Gaeilge
  • Italian — Italiano
  • Latvian — Latviešu
  • Lithuanian — Lietuvių kalba
  • Polish — Polski
  • Portuguese — Português
  • Romanian — Română
  • Russian — Русский
  • Slovak — Slovenčina
  • Spanish — Español
  • Ukrainian — Українська
  • NI Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) Information 2015/16

    Topics:
    • DoH Statistics and Research, 
    • Quality and Outcomes framework (QOF)

    Date published: 28 October 2016

    The Department of Health today published the achievement figures from the NI Quality and Outcomes Framework 2015/16.

    Quality and outcomes framework

    This is the twelfth year of operation of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), a system to remunerate general practices for providing good quality care to their patients and to help fund work to further improve the quality of health care delivered. It is a fundamental part of the General Medical Services (GMS) Contract, which was introduced on 1st April 2004.

    The QOF measures achievement against a range of evidence-based indicators, with points and payments awarded according to the level of achievement. The framework has four main components:

    • Clinical Indicators
    • Public Health Indicators (including Additional Services)
    • Patient Experience
    • Records & Systems Indicators

    Key Points

    • the average total QOF achievement of practices was 539.05 (98.55%), from a maximum available QOF total of 547
    • from the QOF indicators that measure the prevalence of a disease, the highest recorded prevalence was for Hypertension (13.32%) and the lowest was for Osteoporosis (0.21%)

    Across the clinical domains, the average points achieved were:

    • Clinical: 374.33 (98.51%)
    • Public Health: 33.56 (95.89%)
    • Public Health (Additional Services): 13.66 (97.55%)
    • Patient Experience: 17.95 (99.71%)
    • Records & Systems: 99.56 (99.56%)

    The 347 practices received a total of £30.52million, with an average award of £87,950 per practice

    Notes to editors:

    1. The QOF data tables and reports are published on the Department of Health website.

    2. This is the twelfth year of operation of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF). Results from previous years are available on the DoH website.

    3. Despite being a voluntary arrangement, all practices in the north of Ireland have participated in the QOF since its introduction in April 2004.

    4. For statistical or data queries, please contact Information & Analysis Directorate on 028 9052 0273.

    5. For policy queries, please contact General Medical Services Branch, Primary Care Directorate on 028 9058 9644.

    6. Media queries about this press release please contact the DoH Press Office on 028 9052 0567. For out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07623 974383 and your call will be returned. Follow us on Twitter @healthdpt

    Latest news

    • Health Minister formally opens new MRI scanner unit at Causeway Hospital

      18 November 2025

    • Minister remains committed to funding Real Living Wage for independent sector social care staff

      14 November 2025

    • Nesbitt: AI project delivering real time benefits to patients in Northern Ireland

      13 November 2025

    • Statistics on Smoking Cessation services in Northern Ireland: 4 Week follow up figures for 2024/25, and 52 week follow up figures for 2023/24

      12 November 2025

    More news …
    Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on X (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

    Department footer links

    • Crown copyright
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy
    • Cookies
    • Accessibility
    • The Northern Ireland Executive
    • The Executive Office
    • Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
    • Department for Communities
    • Department for Education
    • Department for the Economy
    • Department of Finance
    • Department for Infrastructure
    • Department for Health
    • Department of Justice
    • nidirect.gov.uk — the official government website for Northern Ireland citizens