Major UK National Health Service Reforms in 2004
| Primary care reforms1 |
| Allowed primary care physicians greater flexibility in the services they provided, for example, opting out of responsibility for out-of-hours care. |
| Financial incentive scheme for primary care physicians to deliver clinical and organizational care, assessed through performance target achievement (the Quality and Outcomes Framework). |
| Emergency care reforms |
| Tightening of targets so that 98% of patients wait no more than 4 hours in an emergency department from arrival to hospital admission, transfer, or discharge.2 |
| Hospital reforms |
| Introduction of payment-by-results schemes changed the way a hospital was paid, from a block contract payment system for service provision to one remunerating activity, such as episodes of care.3 |