Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether NHS England monitors clinical commissioning group incentive schemes for evidence of payments to GPs for the reduction of outpatient referrals.

Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for making decisions based on what they believe will achieve the best outcomes for patients in their areas. The Department expects decisions to be based on clinical evidence and, where appropriate, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance.

NHS England’s CCG incentive scheme, the Quality Premium (QP) is designed to support the delivery of the major priorities for the National Health Service, as set out in the Five Year Forward View and in the Mandate to NHS England. The scheme does not focus on the reduction of outpatient referrals.

QP payments should be used by CCGs to secure improvement in the quality of health services; or the outcomes achieved from the provision of health services; or reducing inequalities between patients in terms of their ability to access health services or the outcomes achieved. NHS England does not monitor the use of award payments by CCGs.

CCGs may offer local incentives to providers, and would be expected to do so in the best interest of patients.