Revalidation is the process by which all doctors in the UK are required to demonstrate that they are updating their clinical knowledge and skills on an on-going basis and remain fit to practise medicine. The Secretary of State for Health (England) has announced the start of revalidation across the UK from 3rd December and all doctors will be required to participate by 2016. The GMC has advised doctors individually of their revalidation date in early 2013.
This section of the website provides an overview of the key developments now under way to create a framework for the delivery of revalidation for doctors in the UK.
As well as some brief background there is a summary of the revalidation process information about who is involved and updates on projects that are developing tools and guidance to assist doctors preparing for appraisal and revalidation.
The supporting information for appraisal and revalidation for physicians is now available. This framework describes the information physicians will be asked to provide at appraisal and which will form the core of information to allow your Responsible Officer to recommend revalidation.
If you have queries or comments on any of the documents, proposals and projects described or, more generally, on the role of the College in revalidation, please email.
Background
Revalidation started on 3rd December 2012 following work to put in place the primary legislation and regulations required to enact revalidation and the formal confirmation of the start date by the Secretary of State in England (on behalf of the NHS across the UK). Professor Sir Peter Rubin, Chair of the General Medical Council (GMC), became the first doctor to revalidate on 18 December 2012.
Plans for periodic revalidation of doctors in the UK had been under discussion for some time, particularly following the public inquiry in 2001 into failings in the children’s heart surgery service at Bristol Royal Infirmary. However, the proposals for the introduction of revalidation in December 2012 were triggered specifically by The Shipman Inquiry, chaired by Dame Janet Smith, which concluded that the NHS and GMC did not have the systems or culture in place that would have allowed conduct such as that of Shipman to be detected. Following publication of Dame Janet Smith’s report, which also criticised the GMC’s existing plans for revalidation as inadequate, Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer for England, was asked to undertake a broad review of medical regulation. The subsequent report (Good doctors, safer patients) and White Paper (Trust, Assurance and Safety - The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century) were followed by the passing of legislation in 2008 granting the powers to establish revalidation.
Throughout these developments, RCPE has been committed to representing the views of Fellows and Members through active involvement in all the relevant national committees and projects (see who is involved). |
