_{1 Aug 2012}

First Commissioning Outcomes Framework indicators revealed

Care for those recovering from stroke, tackling diabetes, and improving maternal health are among topics covered in the first set of Commissioning Outcomes Framework (COF) indicators published by NICE.

The COF has been developed by the NHS Commissioning Board, with support from NICE and groups of patients and experts, to improve the quality of healthcare provided at a local level.

From April 2013, it will be used to measure the quality and outcomes of healthcare commissioned by Clinical Commissioning Groups.

A set of 44 indicators have been recommended by the COF Advisory Committee and are published today. These include enhancing the quality of life for those with long-term conditions.

Care for those immediately after stroke and following hospital discharge is one the key areas covered.

Studies show that more can be done improve the care of those who suffered stroke, with research from 2011 suggesting less than half of stroke survivors had received an assessment of their health and social care needs.

The new indicator for stroke aims to tackle this with a measure for people who have had an acute stroke receive treatment for dissolving blood clots, known as thrombolysis.

This measures a key component of high-quality care defined in NICE's quality standard stroke; namely that patients with suspected stroke should be admitted directly to a specialist acute stroke unit and assessed for thrombolysis, receiving it if clinically indicated.

Further indicators measure whether people with diabetes have received all nine of their care processes.

The set of 44 proposed new indicators have been identified from NICE quality standards, the NHS Outcomes Framework and other existing indicator collections such as national audits.

They will be considered by the NHS Commissioning Board for inclusion in the 2013/14 COF.

For more on this see the NICE website.