National award for care

The standard of care given to patients with Coronary Heart Disease and Hypertension (persistently high blood pressure) by GP practices in Hastings and Rother has been recognised with a national award.

Members of the primary care team from the PCT attended the Annual Quality and Outcome Framework (QOF) Awards last month, where they were presented with their award by Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health.

The Quality and Outcome Framework was introduced in April 2004 and is an annual assessment process that gives GP practices the opportunity to improve their patient care services and management. Both clinical and non-clinical data from each GP practice is assessed, and points given in 14 areas according to the level of care offered to patients.

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The award for Coronary Heart Disease and Hypertension care was won by the former Bexhill and Rother PCT, where practices achieved 99.92% of the points available for Coronary Heart Disease and 99.96% of points available for Hypertension. The former Hastings and St Leonards PCT followed closely behind as runners-up in the category.

Dr. Stewart Findlay, Chair of the panel of judges, commented that the PCTs had demonstrated "a high level of clinical engagement with consistently high performance from all their general practices."

Simon Lawrence, Interim Director of Primary Care, said: "We are thrilled to receive this award in recognition of efforts of both the staff here at the PCT and those working in GP practices, all of whom have made such impressive progress in improving patient care."

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