CQUINs means Commissioning for Quality and Innovation. This is a system introduced in 2009 to make a proportion of healthcare providers’ income conditional on demonstrating improvements in quality and innovation in specified areas of care.

This means that a proportion of our income depends on achieving quality improvement and innovation goals agreed between the Trust and its commissioners.

The quality increase applies over and above the standard contract. The sum is variable based on 1.5% of our activity and depends on achieving quality improvement and goals.

The estimated value in 2011/12 was £3.75m as part of our contracts with Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) for acute and community services, and with specialised services commissioners. We have not yet agreed the final settlement figure for 2011/12 as some targets depend upon information yet to be received. However, for the purpose of the year end accounts, we have assumed 84% achievement of both the PCT and specialised services schemes. This would equal approx £3.15m.

There is one CQUIN scheme per contract, made up of several goals. Goals for venous-thromboembolism (a blood clot in a vein) and responsiveness to personal needs are nationally determined, and the remainder are locally agreed.

We have rated the CQUIN for 2011/12 on a red (not achieved) amber (partially achieved) and green (achieved) basis dependent on achievement to date. We will fall short of meeting the two goals for hospital patient experience and smoking and alcohol, and we have actions in place to ensure the quality of care in these areas is improved and both are quality priorities for this year.

In 2012/13 the amount the Trust can earn will increase to 2.5% on top of the actual contract value. The estimated value of this is £6.4m. As well as the mandated goals for venous-thromboembolism and responsiveness to personal needs being continued in 2012/13, there are additional compulsory goals of dementia screening and the NHS Safety Thermometer.