BMA Quality of Outcomes Framework 2013-2014

[Clutter]

...or how your hypothyroid condition and symptoms earn your GP practice pennies but your depression can be a nice little earner!

facebook.com/scottishthyroi...

[beaton]

Say's it all.

[beaton]

Sorry I'm still fuming, what can we do about this????

[teacherspet]

Now we know why they want us popping anti-depressants. Not for our benefit but their coffers.

Any painful or potentially life threatening condition should be worth more than 1 point and that should be for things like routine check ups and minor infections.

Not wanting to belittle the seriousness of depression but it shouldn't earn a GP more in one month than serious conditions earn them in a year!!

We will only be treated better if this situation changes and that means making a lot of noise - the information is out there and it can't just be ignored.

[Clutter in reply to teacherspet]

Those with conditions outwith the framework will obviously be peed off at the perceived 'slight'. I'm astonished at the differentials however, and do wonder whether it has a bearing on AD prescribing. Many people feel strongly that ADs should never be prescribed, except perhaps after bereavement &/or trauma, without a thorough examination to rule out physical causes like thyroid disease.

[HarryE in reply to Clutter]

I have had ADs on & off over 20 years & I have NEVER had any physical investigation or even been asked what the root cause is, no therapy, nothing, just pills. I have sought & paid for all my own therapy.

[HarryE in reply to HarryE]

& now it seems I am going to have to do the same for my thyroid treatment! It makes your blood boil!! & I work for the NHS!

[Clutter in reply to HarryE]

Intolerable! NHS is great for emergency and injury but crap for chronic health problems.

[Clutter in reply to HarryE]

Me too. Private dr., tests & shrink for bipolar diagnosis. Family GP had sent me away to 'consider what problems might be making me feel low' a neat euphemism for crying jags and suicide attempts and tendencies. Then refused to prescribe on NHS when shrink had got me stable.

[nightingale-56]

Treating people for anything shouldn't earn them extra points at all. Surely, their inflated pay should be the payment for treating people! Janet.

[Clutter in reply to nightingale-56]

QOF isn't part of GP's pay, it is an incentive to participate in framework guidelines and the practice is compensated for the cost of implementing the framework.

[nowiggo]

The piece says that RA is a common side effect of antidepressants. There is no evidence of this. Inflammation and serotonin share pathways and it has been found that some SSRIs (a form of antidepressants) can relieve the symptoms of RA. Low dose Amitriptyline,10 or 15 mg , is also used in some cases of muscle pain as it acts as a muscle relaxant.

[Clutter in reply to nowiggo]

I'm very glad to hear it, having taken ADs for most of my life and having had a close family member crippled with RA for the last 30 years of her life.

[Hidden]

try putting your GP practice in organisation box... (hours of fun)

gpcontract.co.uk/child/10K/...

and

nhsemployers.org/Aboutus/Pu...