This page explains what the GP Workload tool is, and how it links with CQRS.
What is the GP Workload Tool
GP practices use IT systems for managing appointments with their patients. These systems offer robust data for helping to measure access and activity within a GP practice to ensure GPs have a balanced workload. Understanding a GP practice workload can help deliver improvements and inform workforce needs.
The GP Contract sets out ambitions for improving patient access to primary care and reducing waiting times for routine appointments. [Source Transformation Partners in Health and Care]
The GP Workload Tool is GP practice data relating to:
- Number of Did Not Attend’s (DNAs)
- Number of appointments
According to Transformation Partners in Health and Care, the GP Workload Tool provides information on:
- Utilisation and DNA rates
- Weekly breakdown
- Appointment by mode
- Age/gender
- 3rd, 4th and 5th available appointments
- Appointments by session holder
The GP Workload Tool also has the capacity to generate reports for the GP practice and PCN to use. The data can be aggregated at system level for a region for use by Integrated Care Boards (ICBs).
The GP Workload Tool and CQRS
NHS England collect data under the Patient Online Management Information (PMOI). Data on patient access (referred to as the 3rd next available appointment) has been collected as part of the PMOI data collection since September 2017.
According to NHS Digital’s Data Provision Notice dated July 2017, general practices receive an offer to accept the GP Workload Information Collection via the Calculating Quality Reporting Service (CQRS) system. The data is collected via general practice clinical system suppliers, and is non-identifiable data. Monthly data is collected so capacity and utilisation can be understood.
The Calculating Quality Reporting Service (CQRS) is an approval, reporting and payments system for GP practices. It helps practices to track, monitor and declare achievement for the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), DES, and Vaccination and Immunisation (V&I) programmes. [source NHS Digital]. Since 1 November 2020, CQRS has been managed by the NHS Commissioning Support Units.
