NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Revalidation Update
Primary Care
This is the first of updates on revalidation for medical staff in NHSGGC, and is based on
currently available information.
The General Medical Council (GMC) has indicated that they expect to be given the
green light to proceed with revalidation this summer. They anticipate that they will
begin to receive Responsible Officer recommendations from 2013 onwards. The GMC
has been clear that revalidation is part of a wider system measure to promote
improvement in patient safety, by ensuring doctors confirm that they are fit to hold a
licence to practise. It will be based on appraisal and clinical governance information.
Following the issue of a notice for revalidation, the Responsible Officer will be able to
make one of three recommendations to the GMC. Based upon information received
they can; recommend for revalidation, request more time (deferral) before a decision is
made by GMC for example if the doctor is on maternity leave or notify the GMC that
the doctor has failed to engage with the process despite sufficient opportunity and
support. Following the Responsible Officer recommendation, the GMC will decide what
action to take next. Revalidation will be supported by a number of online initiatives
from the GMC and in particular it is recommended that doctors register with GMC
Online. http://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/information_for_doctors/gmc_online.asp
The website also gives details of patient questionnaires. Over the next 9 months or so
doctors may be contacted by the GMC to confirm their designated body, in this case
NHSGGC, and Responsible Officer (see below).
We anticipate that the first tranche of revalidation in Scotland will largely depend on
information gleaned from appraisal during the 2012-13 cycle. We are told that 20% of
doctors will be randomly chosen from those registered in Scotland. For 2012-13 those
with a 4 or 6 as the penultimate number of their GMC reference number have been
chosen and will be the first to revalidate. Current guidance is that these doctors
complete multisource colleague feedback (15 colleagues) and patient feedback (25
patients), unless these have been completed in the three years prior to their
Revalidation. They should also provide evidence of 50 CPD credits per year. The final
Scottish Government guidance on appraisal is due to be published shortly.
April 2012
Appraisal in Primary Care will continue as present and be organised through NHS
Education for Scotland. We will continue to use the Scottish Online Appraisal Resource
(SOAR) which will be updated to reflect changes in the appraisal documentation to
align it with the G.M.C. document “Good Medical Practice “. There is also information
on multi souce feedback available on the website
https://online.scottishappraisal.scot.nhs.uk/Login.aspx.
In our last audit in NHSGGC, the overwhelming majority of G.Ps on the Performer’s List
did have a recorded appraisal, but it is essential that all G.Ps should ensure that they
complete an appraisal in readiness for revalidation starting at the end of 2012.
Appraisal should have taken place from 2012 onwards.
Information from appraisal and other sources such as clinical governance data allows
the Responsible Officer to confidently make recommendations to the GMC regarding
revalidation. The Responsible Officer in GGC is the Board Medical Director who from 1st
April 2012 is Dr Jennifer Armstrong. The Clinical Director responsible for Primary Care
is Dr Paul Ryan. The Responsible Officer for trainees is Dr Stewart Irvine the Medical
Director of NHS Education for Scotland
The Local Appraisal Adviser, Dr Janice Oliver , is responsible for the organisation of the
appraisal process for Primary Care within the Board.
All Appraisers in Primary care and been through the appropriate training and this will
be updated to incorporate the new forms. Further Information on this is available at
the SOAR website or from Royal College of General Practitioners
http://www.rcgp.org.uk/revalidation.asp and I would refer you to their recent
reavalidation update which details the supporting information required. (attached)
The overall system of appraisal and Responsible Officer recommendations will be
overseen in Scotland by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS). A system of
governance for appraisal and revalidation has been agreed by the Corporate
Management Group.
We will send you further updates as Revalidation approaches but in the meantime
every doctor needs to ensure they complete an apparisal this year. They are advised to
contact their appariser well in advance of their interview to discuss what they are
required to submit.
Dr. Paul Ryan
[email protected]
April 2012
April 2012
April 2012
April 2012
April 2012