The impact of quality improvement initiatives on diabetes care among south Asian people

South Asian people have a greater relative risk of diabetes. However, previous research suggests that quality of healthcare for this group is inadequate. This article evaluates the impact of the QOF and national guidance on the identification and recording of diabetes and renal complications, and explores differences between south Asian and white European people at diabetes diagnosis through a comparison of primary care audits carried out at two time points in implementation of the QOF. Findings show that early recording of diabetes and renal function increased following introduction of these national interventions. As south Asian people were younger at diagnosis with lower blood pressure and better renal function, they are likely to benefit from continued improvements in early recording. GP practices are ideally placed to improve health through the use of routinely collected data and the opportunities that increased recording provides.