QoF data to be published online

Practices will no longer have to release Quality and Outcome Framework data if asked to do so under the Freedom of Information Act as data will be in the public domain from tomorrow (August 31), GPs have been told.

Revised guidance on the Freedom of Information Act from the British Medical Association’s GP committee advises GPs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that QoF data including details of achievement at individual practice and individual indicator level is due to be published at the end of August.

The guidance adds: “Once this information is published, practices will not need to disclose this information themselves under the Freedom of Information Act and can refer the enquirer to the appropriate website.”

Details of QoF results for every practice in England are due to appear on the Health and Social Care Information Centre website tomorrow and Wales and Northern Ireland are also expected to publish practice data tomorrow. Scotland published its results at the end of May.

The guidance on the Freedom of Information Act, which applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland, has been updated this month by the BMA’s General Practitioner Committee after comments from the Information Commissioner’s office.

A new paragraph on disclosure of personal information qualifies the previous statement that a practice would be exempt from providing third party or personal data under the Freedom of Information Act.

The new advice states: “The Information Commissioner has advised that personal information can be released under the Act, in so far as the personal information is related to that person’s role in the public authority and where disclosure does not breach any of the data protection principles. An example would be NHS salary pay bands.”

Revised guidance on the Scottish Freedom of Information Act has also been published.

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