This document provides information about an upcoming conference on physician revalidation in the UK. It summarizes presentations that will discuss implementing revalidation, doctors' experiences piloting revalidation, and available support for preparing for the first revalidation cycle. Testing of revalidation found the appraisal process takes similar time as before and patients feel the proposed model meets their needs. While progress has been made, some challenges remain regarding locum doctors, SAS doctors, and ensuring all organizations are ready.

1. Get ready for revalidation
AGM 2012, London Olympia
22 November 2012

2. Get ready for revalidation
• Revalidation: towards implementation
Jon Billings, General Medical Council
• Doctors’ experiences of revalidation
Dr Anita Donley, NHS Revalidation Support
Team
• Preparing for revalidation: information
and support
Dr Ian Starke, Royal College of Physicians
• Your questions
2

3. Revalidation: towards
implementation
Jon Billings, Assistant Director – Revalidation
General Medical Council

4. Revalidation is:
• Part of a wider system of measures to promote
improvements in safety and quality
• Intended to ensure all medical practice takes place
within a governed environment
• A positive affirmation of a doctor’s professionalism
based on GMC core guidance Good Medical
Practice
Revalidation isn’t:
• A test or exam with a pass or fail outcome
• A new way to raise concerns about a doctor
• The only purpose or output of appraisal or training
assessment
4

5. Statutory framework
RO regs – since Jan 2011 Revalidation regs – from Dec 2012
5

6. How revalidation works: the process
For doctors in
training
• Trainee
• Panel
Regular
ARCP/RITA
6

7. Requirements for doctors
(not trainees)
Pursuit of excellence Recognising human factors
• Knowledge, skills and performance
• Safety and quality
Openness Seeking comparators
• Communication, partnership and
teamwork
Disclosure Reflection
• Maintaining trust
Learning
Valuing peers
Commitment to improving
Showing insight

8. First revalidation cycle: how it will work

9. Doctors’ experiences of
revalidation
Dr Anita Donley OBE, Medical Director
NHS Revalidation Support Team

10. Revalidation
• ‘…supporting, quality
assuring and
improving the practice
of the vast majority of
doctors who already
perform to an
acceptable standard ’
(2006)

11. NHS Revalidation Support Team
www.revalidationsupport.nhs.uk

12. Developing, piloting and testing
Objectives of RST Testing and Piloting project (2011-12) were to:
• inform implementation of revalidation
• inform development of guidance for doctors and designated
bodies
• provide information to inform Department of Health (England)
business case for revalidation.

13. Developing, piloting and testing: what RST found
• Medical Appraisal Guide (MAG) pilot : Appraisal for revalidation set out in
MAG takes nine hours. This is no longer than previous systems.
• Public and patient involvement : Patients felt proposed model would meet
their needs, expectations and concerns. Many assumed system similar to
revalidation already existed.
• Doctors in training pilot : Trainees found modified ARCP process piloted was
fair, efficient and took very little extra time. However, employers found completion of
exit reports for each trainee time-consuming and resource intensive.
• Colleague and patient feedback study : Doctors most positive when
appraiser discusses colleague and patient feedback with them. They strongly prefer
a known and trusted colleague to deliver feedback.

14. Medical appraisal
Inputs Outputs
Scope of PDP
work
Supporting Appraisal
Portfolio Confidential Summary of
information sign off
review discussion discussion
Last PDP
& appraisal
summary
Appraiser statement
Other

15. Still some challenges
• Locums
• SAS doctors
• Information
• Organisations

16. Organisational readiness: ORSA 2011-12
• High level of engagement in ORSA exercise (95% response rate from
designated bodies).
• Substantial progress made between 2010-11 and 2011-12.
• Improvements in all measured key indicators.
Key findings:
• 82% of doctors linked to organisations ready to support them with
revalidation.
• Almost 100% doctors had a responsible officer.
• Overall appraisal rate rose to 73%, with significant increases reported
for every grade of doctor.

17. Action plans
• Designated bodies in England produced action plans by the end of
July 2012 to ensure systems ready by December.
• Progress against plans monitored by SHA clusters, working closely
with designated bodies.
• NHS RST supporting SHA clusters with this process.

18. Preparing for revalidation:
information and support
Dr Ian Starke, Medical Director for Revalidation
Royal College of Physicians

19. Revalidation: a personal view
• Revalidation for me:
– A realistic challenge
– How good is “good enough”?
– The importance of effective appraisal
– The retention of the “excellence” agenda
• Revalidation for my service :
– How can revalidation drive quality of care?
– How will we know that revalidation is “working”?

20. Preparing for revalidation
• GMC requirements and specialty guidance
• NHS Revalidation Support Team on appraisal
• Your RO, appraiser and date
• Supporting information for the first cycle
– Continuing professional development
– Quality improvement activity – types of audit
– Significant events
– Feedback from colleagues and patients
– Review of complaints and compliments
• Trainees and SAS doctors

21. Support available from Colleges
• Establishment of helpdesks – e-mail / FAQs
• Specialty training of advisers for doctors, appraisers
and ROs
• Tools for the job:
– E-portfolio to record supporting information
– Colleague and patient feedback tools
– Personal clinical audit tool
– Clinical guidelines and CPD opportunities
• Monitor experience of doctors and appraisers.

22. Your questions

23. Thank you for coming
• Visit us on Stand No. B94
• Find out more at www.gmc-uk.org/ready4reval
• Email revalidation@gmc-uk.org