Proposals have been made to remove the indicators that give GP practices incentives to identify and help patients with depression.  The proposals have been publised by NICE in their proposed Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) indicators for 2012/13.  This is a voluntary annual incentive scheme that rewards GP practices that improve the care they provide to patients.  Three of the indicators relating to depression are due to be 'retired' because it is felt not enough evidence supports them.

In response, a number of mental health charities and professional groups have united to express their concern that the indicators are to be retired without replacing them with new indicators.  The charities believe that GPs will have no incentive to manage the care of patients with depression or provide support for the mental health needs of patients with asthma and diabetes.

Sir Andrew Dillon, Chief Executive of NICE, has written to the QOF negotiators on the Primary Care Quality and Outcomes Framework Indicator Advisory Committee that is responsible for reviewing the indicators about the retirement of the depression indicators before new ones are introduced.  This has been welcomed by mental health charities. 

The final indicators for the 2012/13 QOF will be decided by NHS Employers and the General Practitioners Committee.  They will be published in the winter of 2011.