Professor Stephen Soumerai, part of a research team looking into doctors’ pay, said of a bonus scheme introduced in 2004: "The programme's lack of effect may be explained in part by performance targets that were set too close to existing practice." It was found the system had no real impact on the treatment of high blood pressure. The researchers did not look at other parts of the bonus system, but their findings echoed concerns about whether the targets were ambitious enough as doctors hit them regularly.