What does Revalidation Mean?

Appraisal meetings are face-to-face or video-conference meetings between the appraiser and the doctor and normally lasts between one and two hours. The appraisal duration will vary relying on the individual’s circumstances, and specifically with the amount and quality of the supporting information provided before the appraisal meeting.

It is now accepted as the norm for both the appraiser and the doctor having the appraisal to use a customised on online appraisal form.

Appraisal meetings do not need to follow a rigid format, although they will usually cover areas including the clarification of the doctor’s progress over the previous year and any particular issues being considered. The doctor, (‘appraisee’) should discuss the Personal Development Plan (PDP) from the previous year and focus on the success or otherwise of meeting the objectives during that PDP should be noted at an early stage.

When it comes to a first appraisals for doctors who have had no appraisal experience previously there may be no PDP to discuss. In this particular case the appraisal process would concentrate on the educational needs of the doctor, and to identify educational activities that will support their personal development over the revalidation/ relicensing five year cycle.

After the meeting the appraiser will spend time reviewing the supporting information provided during the appraisal interview, and complete the sections of the online appraisal form, as well as write-up some “output statements” which conclusions pertain to the doctors clinical work, in the context of their fitness to practice. Typical areas that will have been covered during the appraisal would include conclusions about the doctor’s quality improvement activity, significant events, complaints and compliments, colleague patient feedback, and a general assessment of the appraisal process.

Another fundamental part of the appraisal outputs statements from appraiser to the responsible officer regard the doctor’s fitness to practice. These “appraisal outputs” include confirmation to the RO that the appraisal has covered all the doctors scope of work, there has been sufficient supporting information provided, there being appropriate progress with previous PDPs, the development of a new PDP and confirmation that the appraiser considers that the appraisee is practising and performing in accordance with the principles and values laid out in the GMC’s document good medical practice.