SOME GP surgeries in Huddersfield could be set for a big cash boost.
They have performed exceptionally well in new ratings from the Department of Health (DoH) and could now receive tens of thousands of pounds on top of their normal budgets.
The above-average figures for 14 surgeries in the South Huddersfield Primary Care NHS Trust area were among some of the best in the region.
They averaged 1,006.4 out of 1,050 points on offer.
The Huddersfield Central Trust, which has 33 practices, produced an average score of 883.2 points.
This is below the national average of 959, but above the expected national average of about 730 that the government had budgeted for.
In North Kirklees, the figure was 880.9 points.
The performance ratings are the first to be produced in this way and it could mean huge extra payments to the better surgeries.
GP surgeries across England have far exceeded expectations about their performance, the figures showed.
The data from the Quality and Outcomes Framework, established as part of the new GP contract, show the 959 average practice score represents 91% of the points on offer.
The NHS Alliance, which represents primary care trusts, said the DoH had budgeted for an average of 730 points.
The high scores now mean the incentive scheme could cost about £200m more than expected.
A total of 8,486 practices in England were assessed.
Criteria included appointment times, chronic disease care and provision of flu jabs to those most at risk.
Under the payment system, the more points the practice achieves and the more services they provide, the more money they earn.
The final sum they receive is adjusted to take account of their workload and the health of patients in the local area.
An average-sized GP practice with an average score will receive £74,299 extra, the DoH said.
The total package of resources and rewards for all NHS GP practices would total around £630m.
The DoH said that, for the first time, GPs were being rewarded for the outcomes they achieve with patients and not just the volume of work they did.
The figures showed GPs were delivering high quality services to NHS patients.
Patients will be able to look up the results on a massive database which has now been published for the first time.
Health minister Lord Warner said: "This new system gives the NHS, for the first time ever, world-leading intelligence on chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
"This means that in future the NHS will be able to map populations with these debilitating conditions with pinpoint accuracy.
"As the database builds up it will allow us to focus resources and plan services appropriately to help us tackle health inequalities.
"That means good news for NHS patients and good value for money for taxpayers."
