Is the distribution of care quality provided under pay-for-performance equitable? Evidence from the Advancing Quality programme in England

Table 1 Characteristics of participating hospitals

Characteristic	Number	Percentage
Scale and scope of hospital
Teaching or specialist	5	21
Large general	7	29
Medium general	8	33
Small general	4	17
Foundation Trust Status ^a
Non-foundation Trust	17	71
Foundation Trust	7	29
Rating of overall quality of care in 2007^b
Excellent	7	29
Good	13	54
Fair or weak	4	17
Rating of financial management in 2007^c
Excellent	11	46
Good	7	29
Fair or weak	6	25

^aFoundation trust hospitals that have been approved by the national regulator to have additional managerial and financial autonomy; classified according to status in 2007
^bThe rating represent the composite rating of performance in 2007 by the national regulator (the Healthcare Commission) against core standards, existing national targets, and new national targets for quality
^cThe rating represents the composite rating of performance in 2007 by the national regulators (the Healthcare Commission and Monitor) on financial standing, management, and control

ISSN: 1475-9276