QMAS is a national IT system which gives GP practices and Primary Care Trusts objective evidence and feedback on the quality of care delivered to NHS patients.

As GP practices are rewarded financially according to the quality of care they provide, it is essential that the payment rules that underpin the General Medical Services (GMS) Contract are implemented consistently across all systems and all practices in England. QMAS ensures that this is achieved.

QMAS allows GP practices to analyse the data they collect about the number of services and the quality of care they deliver, such as maternity services or chronic disease management clinics. This provides a positive incentive for GPs to treat patients in the community rather than referring them to hospital for treatment such as diagnosis or minor operations.