DOCTORS around the Cotswolds are so good they have left the cash-strapped Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust further in debt.

The Cotswolds' GPs scored top points in the first ever quality and outcomes framework results, meaning they are achieving targets for treating ten chronic diseases including asthma, diabetes and epilepsy.

Surgeries in the PCT were awarded an average of 1,016 points out of a possible 1,050 for their patient care. And although PCT bosses are delighted with this news, the success has left them out of pocket.

Chris Morton, assistant director of Primary Care for Cotswold and Vale explained the doctors' potential achievements had not been fully realised.

He said: "We were funded centrally for £1.7 million - equating to an average of 750 points per practice. But, because our practices have dramatically exceeded that expectation, the total payment to GPs from the scheme this year is £2.5m."

Joanna Wynn, assistant director of communications and involvement, explained: "This is the first year that it has happened. The new GP contract came into force last April and this is the first year of assessments."

She went on to say the shortfall of £800,000 would come out of the PCT budget which already has a substantial deficit.

All 33 GP practices in the PCT were assessed by doctors from other surgeries who worked with managers and lay assessors, including members of the Patient and Public Involvement Forum.

Mr Morton welcomed the achievement of the practices. He said: "These results prove definitively what we always understood - that GPs in the Cotswold and Vale PCT provide an excellent standard of patient care.

Scoring highly was the Phoenix Surgery in Cirencester which was awarded 1,046.3 points. Moira McCall is practice manager there, she said staff were very pleased with results.

"It's a reflection of the patient care that the clinical staff have been giving all along. We have just had it formalised and jumped through hoops to provide it. We are very pleased to get the points and lots of other practices in the area also did well.

"It is a recognition of all the good work the doctors do, it was a good team effort."

Since the surgeries will now be tested again to calculate next year's points Moira is setting her sights on full marks.

"We are aspiring to top marks for next year," she said. "There's no reason why we can't do it."