The specialty supporting information guidance for revalidation has been published today for use by physicians across the UK. The guidance helps doctors to collect and prepare their supporting information for annual appraisal. This in turn contributes to their revalidation evidence to their Responsible Officer, who will recommend to the General Medical Council (GMC) that they remain fit to practise.
The supporting information must always be relevant to a doctor’s area of work and doctors should refer to guidance from their relevant college or faculty. Developed collaboratively between the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and the Royal College of Physicians of London with onsiderable input from the 29 physician specialties, this guidance will enable all physicians to provide the supporting information they need to demonstrate that they are up to date and fit to practise. It has been designed to offer practical examples of the types of information that might be presented across the many areas of physician practice. The guidance:
- applies to all physicians and helps them to interpret the requirements in the context of their specialist practice
- describes the supporting information required as set out in the GMC guidance:
- general information and scope of practice
- continuing professional development
- quality improvement activity
- review of significant events
- feedback from colleagues
- feedback from patients
- review of complaints and compliments.
The guidance is consistent with the guidance from other medical royal colleges and faculties, with common areas and specialty specific areas clearly differentiated. It has been finalised following extensive consultation with fellows and members and testing as part of the NHS Revalidation Support Team’s Medical Appraisal pilot in England in 2011.
Dr Ian Starke, RCP medical director for revalidation, said:
As the time for implementation of the revalidation process grows ever nearer, we are putting in place all the guidance and support physicians need for a smooth transition. Extensive consultation and piloting mean that the guidance, tools and resources will meet the needs of physicians across the UK; they have been designed against standards set by the General Medical Council and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. All physicians want to demonstrate that they are providing a safe and high quality service to patients and the public, and we fully support them in this endeavour.
Supporting information for revalidation: guidance for physicians