Doctors holding a GMC License to Practise must demonstrate that they are up-to-date and fit to Practise. They do so through the process known as “revalidation”.
KEY TERMS:
APPRAISAL: The key evidence used to demonstrate Fitness to Practise for Revalidation. An annual discussion every 9-12 months with a qualified appraiser, with a Personal Development Plan completed as an “output” (the “PDP” is also the main “input” into the following year’s appraisal);
MULTISOURCE FEEDBACK: A feedback exercise involving colleagues and patients, completed by a Third Party and collated into a report. Completed at least once each time a doctor revalidates (the exercise can take place at any time during the revalidation cycle);
DESIGNATED BODY: the organisation through which a doctor caries out all or most of their UK-based work. For locum doctors, this can change as they work through different employers;
PRESCRIBED CONNECTION: refers to the relationship between the doctor and their Designated Body;
RESPONSIBLE OFFICER: Usually a senior doctor within a healthcare organisation. The role is set out in statute and includes making sure their Prescribed Connections are regularly appraised and there are processes to investigate and refer any fitness to practise concerns to the GMC. They make recommendations to the GMC about each doctor's revalidation;
UNDER NOTICE: The period of 120 days immediately before a doctor’s revalidation date, during which time a revalidation recommendation can be made;
REVALIDATION DATE: the deadline by which a doctor’s Responsible Officer must make a Revalidation recommendation;
REVALIDATION: a recommendation from the Responsible Officer to the General Medical Council that, in their opinion, the doctor has met the requirements to revalidate for a further five years;
DEFERRAL: a recommendation from the Responsible Officer to the General Medical Council that, in their opinion, the doctor has not yet met the requirements to revalidate, but will be in a position to do so in the coming months (a deferral can be granted for between 4 and 12 months);
NON-ENGAGEMENT: a recommendation from the Responsible Officer to the General Medical Council that, in their opinion, the doctor is not engaging in Revalidation and can therefore not demonstrate that they are up-to-date and fit to Practise. This recommendation can occur at any time during the revalidation cycle, for example if a doctor fails to complete an annual appraisal.
Revalidation is designed to improve the overall quality of patient care and support doctors in their continuing professional development.
As a Designated Body, Direct Medics fully supports the framework for revalidation with the General Medical Council. If you carry out all or most of your UK-based clinical work through us, then Direct Medics may be your Designated Body.
If you think that Direct Medics may be your designated body, please email us at revalidation@directmedics.com.
All GMC-registered doctors must complete a appraisal every 9-12 months.
Appraisals are based on the core guidance for doctors set out in Good Medical Practice (GMP). Appraisals must meet all of the following criteria:
●Be carried out by a registered and licensed medical practitioner
●Comply with the Good medical practice framework for appraisal and revalidation
●Cover and reflect upon your whole practice and performance as outlined in the Supporting information for revalidation and appraisal guidance
●Involve a face-to-face discussion
●Be supported by appropriate systems and processes, and adequate resources (including time and finance)
●Be able to be verified as having taken place
Arranging your Appraisal:
Direct Medics provides annual appraisal to its Prescribed Connections FREE OF CHARGE via Healthcare Licensing Support (conditions apply; please see “Fees”)
Sarah Burns manages connections to Direct Medics and can be contacted at sarah@hls-ltd.co.uk or on 01543 405112.
If Direct Medics is your designated body, please email us at revalidation@directmedics.com.
All aspects of Revalidation are provided completely free of charge to our Prescribed Connections as Standard.
This includes:
- annual appraisal;
- multisource feedback;
- advice and action on governance issues as required; and
- revalidation recommendation when it is due
There are only two circumstances when you could be asked to pay a fee for Revalidation support:
1. If you are not ready to revalidate on your due date: Direct Medics pays a fee for each recommendation your Responsible Officer makes to the GMC. If your Responsible Officer must “defer” your Revalidation for a reason within your control (e.g. if you have not completed your Appraisals or Multisource Feedback) a fee will be payable. This will only apply if you have not engaged in Revalidation as requested so will not apply if, for example, you are on Sickness or Parental leave.
2. If you do not work frequently enough with Direct Medics: You must be able to demonstrate “scope of practise” to complete an annual appraisal. When your appraisal is due, if you have not worked a minimum number of days with us in the year to date we will sadly be unable to meet the cost of your appraisal.
To maintain your Prescribed Connection, Direct Medics must be your main UK employer. You must do a minimum for four weeks’ work in the UK per year to gain enough “scope of practise” to complete an appraisal.
If you cannot commit to four weeks’ work in the UK every year, please do contact us for further advice.
If you do not carry out any work through Direct Medics for an extended period (except for Maternity or Sick Leave), or start working for another Designated Body Direct Medics may no longer be the correct designated body for you.
If Direct Medics is no longer your Designated Body, the following options are available:
- Identify a new designated body: If you have carried out work through another UK-based organisation recently, they may be the correct designated body. The new Designated Body can be identified by logging on to your GMC Connect account and selecting the current employer from the list of designated bodies;
- Declare no prescribed connection: In this case, the GMC would handle your revalidation until you have a new Designated Body;
- Relinquish the License to Practise: If you are not working in the UK and have no plans to, this option would remove the responsibility Revalidate, however this would also prevent you from carrying out any work in the UK.
For locum doctors, the designated body can change frequently throughout their career. All doctors must still demonstrate that they are engaging in revalidation every year with an appraisal, and with multi-source feedback at least once every five years.
