NICE has published a set of new proposed indicators for 2012/13 QOF. Set to drive up quality of care across general practice, the menu will help target resources where they are most needed and deliver the best patient outcomes.

Each indicator has been piloted across a range of practices and is based on the most up-to-date evidence. NICE has also today made recommendations on which existing QOF indicators should be retired or amended.

The menu includes three new indicators on offering support and treatment for smokers, and two new indicators to assess levels of physical activity and provide a brief intervention to people with high blood pressure who score ‘less than active’. There is also an indicator to improve care for people with asthma, and a set of indicators on fragility fractures in osteoporosis patients.

The committee’s recommendations for NICE’s 2012/13 menu of indicators, together with existing indicators which should be reviewed or retired are available in full at: www.nice.org.uk/aboutnice/qof/Recommendationsindicatorretirement.jsp.

Find out more about the exitsing indicator relating to dementia: The percentage of patients with a new diagnosis of dementia from 1 April 2011 to have FBC, calcium, glucose, renal and liver function, thyroid function tests, serum vitamin B12 and folate levels recorded 6 months before or after entering on to the register