GP Appraisal and Revalidation

To get further information about revalidation look at the GMC site in particular the Revalidation Process. This gives an overview of what you need to do, and the information you need to keep in your portfolio.

The revalidation section of the RCGP website gives more specific information about how this relates to General Practice. It includes a document called “The RCGP guide to the revalidation of General Practitioners” which includes helpful advice for GPs in different circumstances such as prolonged leave, locum GPs, and other situations.

All GPs will have to revalidate, usually every five years. They will need to have an annual appraisal and also keep a portfolio of evidence.

GPs in training will also go through revalidation every 5 years and at CCT – click here for more information on how this works. The supervision DiTs receive means they do not need to have an additional NHS appraisal. They do need to complete an annual declaration prior to the ARCP, which is called a form R and attach it to their portfolio. The information on this is the equivalent of the declaration all doctors make at their appraisal.


Newly qualified GPs should follow the advice they have received to change their status on the performers list and ensure they have applied to the appropriate area team as a performer.

 

For further information please see NHS England Website

The key elements in this process are:

  • All DiTs should complete a notification of change form (attached) which should be submitted to the Primary Care Support Office for the Area Team where they have completed their training (for GP DiTs in the North Western Deanery, this will be the Lancashire Area Team
  • DiTs should submit a copy of their CCT together with a letter of clinical reference from their trainer which will be their trainer’s educational supervisors report (downloaded from e-Portfolio).
  • For DiTs remaining in the same Area Team they should note on the change of notification form the capacity in which they will be working post traineeship.
  • For DiTs moving to another Area Team they should indicate on the form that they will be working in the capacity of a locum doctor. These DiTs can then in due course complete a further form for submission to the Primary Care Support Office of the Area Team where they will be relocating. On this form they should indicate they are currently on the national performer list as a locum and inform in what capacity they will be working in the new area.

GPs are expected to be registered within the Area Team that the majority of their work is undertaken. If this is uncertain they should eventually register with the Area Team that covers where they live.

A list of Area Teams can be found on NHS Choices.


Once doctors have completed training they should be offered a GP appraisal each year – they should contact their local Area Team if they do not hear about this. Please do not contact us directly.

What to do

Using an electronic portfolio will help you keep all your information together, and enable you to add information as you go along.

The RCGP revalidation portfolio is free to use for RCGP members, and non-members can subscribe to use it.

Clarity also provides an electronic portfolio. Both the RCGP and clarity toolkits provide a system for electronic MSF and patient survey, and other toolkits and portfolios are also available. Your appraiser or local area team may provide more information.

Evidence for revalidation and appraisal

The key evidence all GPs will need to collect over a 5 year cycle for revalidation includes:
 

  • Annual personal development plans (PDP)
  • 250 learning credits
  • 1 Multi Source Feedback (MSF)
  • 1 Patient survey
  • A record of all formal complaints
  • 10 Significant Event Analysis
  • 1 Audit - complete cycle


Keep a log of your learning in your portfolio including education covered in practice meetings; reading, courses attended and details of work you do implement new protocols or systems of care eg. setting up a new system to ensure appropriate monitoring of red/amber/green drugs.

As a practice keep a record of complaints and actions taken, and practice educational and clinical meetings
Keep a record of any Significant Event Analysis you are involved in.