GP Appraisal

Timetable for Introduction of Revalidation

October 2009 Licenses to practise were issued to individual doctors by the GMC.
Early 2011 Earliest Revalidation recommendations are likely to be on partial portfolios. 
2014 There will be a graduated, staged introduction of Revalidation across the NHS depending on how ready we are, but with the completion of the first cycle of Revalidation for all doctors by 2014. 

GP Appraisal has become of much more significance since April 2009. As you know strengthened appraisal will become the cornerstone of Revalidation. Many doctors have expressed concern about their lack of knowledge with regard to what that actually means and we thought we would use the website to advise you on some of the certainties. We will endeavor to keep you informed about new developments as they arise.

The appraisals that you are doing this year will inform Revalidation for those going through the process from April 2011.

There is nothing to fear from Revalidation. It is designed to improve the quality of patient care and has three elements:

3 Elements
To confirm that licensed doctors practise in accordance with the GMC’s generic standards (relicensure) For doctors on the Specialist Register and GP Register, to confirm that they meet the standards appropriate for their specialty (Recertification) To identify for further investigation, and remediation, poor practice where local systems are not robust enough to do this or do not exist

Revalidation will be supportive and focused on raising standards, as Appraisal is now. It is not a mechanism for dealing with the small proportion of doctors who cause concern but it will help identify doctors who need extra support to develop their portfolios in line with the standards set by the GMC and the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Useful Links

At the appraisal interview the Appraisee and Appraiser identify potential gaps in the accumulating portfolio. The Appraiser will make recommendations on how these gaps might be addressed and progress will be reviewed at the next appraisal.

At the end of the cycle the Responsible Officer makes a recommendation regarding Revalidation on behalf of the local group to the GMC. The role of Responsible Officers is currently being defined and there may be some variation between how this is envisaged here compared to other areas of the UK.

NIMDTA see the benefit from the process of Revalidation reaffirming our already robust systems of appraisal. We are in the process of developing new forms which will be relevant to the four domains of good medical practice.

NIMDTA is also participating in the RCGP Revalidation eportfolio pilot which is due for launch in October 2009. An on-line system would make the appraisal process easier for both Appraisees and Appraisers alike and would mean that the individual doctor can collect information over the course of the year. Some of you may have concerns about an RCGP managed eportfolio, particularly if you are not a member, and RCGP have reassured us on your behalf that there will be no discrimination between members and non-members.

The biggest challenge faced centrally is in distributing appraisals across the whole appraisal year. The first two quarters of the year tend to be light while Appraisers have a heavy workload in the final two quarters. Therefore, in order to try and spread workload further across the coming year the Central Board of Management of GP Appraisal have agreed to implement the following:

Opening Date for Registration and Declaration Forms 9th January 2012
Deadline for Registration and Declaration Forms

30th June 2012

You will be asked to indicate your preference of:

  • Appraiser
  • Month, date and venue for your appraisal
Forms Received after 30th June 2012

You will be allocated:

  • An Appraiser, based on regional availability 
  • A particular quarter for your appraisal
  • You may be required to travel to your Appraiser, anywhere in the region

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS

PLEASE NOTE APPLICATIONS AFTER THIS DATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

28th February 2013

You are advised not to arrange an appraisal with the same Appraiser for more than 3 consecutive years and that you should not book with that Appraiser again for 2 subsequent years.

If you have not undertaken an appraisal within the previous appraisal year due to extenuating circumstances, you are only required to complete one appraisal in the current appraisal year.  You do not need to complete two appraisals.  See FAQ for further details.

There is an administration team in NIMDTA solely dedicated to GP Appraisal.  They are happy to deal with any aspect of appraisal - registration, website enquiries, etc.

Click here to register for appraisal.  You do not need a password.

 

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