Revalidation & Appraisals

Revalidation shouldn’t be daunting, which is why RIG Locums has partnered with MEDSU, a leading revalidation and appraisal body to support you through the process.

RIG Locums is an official GMC ‘designated body’ and is able to organise re-validation on your behalf through our partner, MEDSU.

About MEDSU

MEDSU is an independent doctors’ organisation, which provides governance and support including Appraisal and Revalidation services to members on a not-for-profit basis. MEDSU conduct appraisals online which is both time and cost effective.

MEDSU is not tied to any single employer or organisation, and can offer you continuity of governance, irrespective of your geographic location or short term working arrangements.

MEDSU’s community of independent Responsible Officers, Revalidation-ready Medical Appraisers, case managers/investigators, professional administrators provide members with a comprehensive governance service at a mutual not-for-profit rate.

Alongside Appraisal and Revalidation services, MEDSU also offers a range of innovative cloud based services to members at no extra cost. For example a patient and colleague 360 feedback system.

Revalidation in a nutshell

Revalidation is a process that was introduced in the UK by the GMC in 2012 to ensure doctors continue to meet its Good Medical Practice guidelines. With medical practices advancing on a daily basis, revalidation provides a means of reassuring patients and employers that a doctor’s medical skills and knowledge are up-to-date.  Doctors are required by the GMC to engage in the revalidation process in order to keep their licence to practise medicine in the UK.

Revalidation consists of an annual appraisal where doctors are required to reflect on their experience and learning in addition to discussing a ‘supporting evidence’ portfolio that they have pre-prepared with their appraiser.

Once doctors have completed the appraisal, their ‘responsible officer’ will submit a recommendation to the GMC as to whether they should be revalidated.

It is important to remember that revalidation is by no means an examination – it is an opportunity to reflect on your experience and learning, whilst demonstrating your commitment to continuing professional development.

Resources

The GMC asks for a bank of supporting evidence to be collected, which will then be reviewed in their revalidation appraisal at least once every 5 years.  The types of supporting evidence that are required come under the following six headings:

  • Continuing professional development
  • Quality improvement activity
  • Significant events
  • Feedback from colleagues
  • Feedback from patients
  • Review of complaints and compliments

The GMC has produced a detailed guide to the supporting information that is required for revalidation, here.

FAQs

How do I know when my appraisal is due?

The exact date of your annual appraisal is your choice, but the GMC expects that you will undertake 5 consecutive appraisals within the 5 year Revalidation cycle.

The MEDSU administrative team is available to provide you with as much support as you require in preparing for your annual Appraisal.

Will my ‘responsible officer’ have experience in my speciality?

Responsible officers, like medical directors, are often responsible for doctors working in many different speciality areas, and there is no particular requirement for them to have experience in a single speciality area.

MEDSU Appraisers may be doctors from your specialty area and if this is your preference we can usually facilitate allocation of a same specialty Appraiser, however there is no requirement in this respect and many colleagues often find a cross specialty Appraiser helpful. Appraisal is a process of reflection and critical thinking. It is not supposed to be supervision in a specialty practise area.

What happens if I don’t participate in an annual appraisal?

Participation in annual Appraisal has been a legal requirement for all licensed doctors in the UK since Dec 2012. Failure to provide evidence of annual Appraisal could result in denial of access to work with many healthcare organisations. Consistent failure to participate in Appraisal, termed “Non Engagement” by the GMC, could ultimately end in referral to the GMC with possible disciplinary action in consequence.

What happens if I don’t have the relevant supporting information?

MEDSU provides all new colleagues joining us with a comprehensive information pack, including guidance on preparation Appraisal and Revalidation. If you don’t have the relevant supporting information for Appraisal, your Appraiser may agree to defer your Appraisal to allow you additional time to gather it, or perhaps for you to present some information in a subsequent Appraisal year. If you lack critical supporting information for Revalidation, you will need to take advice from your Appraiser and your Responsible Officer. In some case your Responsible officer can request a deferral of your Revalidation date to allow you additional time to prepare.

What is the cost of revalidation?

Standard membership is £295 per annum or £29.50 per month.  Appraisals are £195, and Revalidation (or any other single intervention by a responsible officer) is £250.

Full details can be found on MEDSU’s website, here:  http://www.medsu.org/independent-appraisal-and-revalidation.

How do I know who my responsible officer is?

MEDSU provides all new colleagues joining us with a comprehensive information pack, including information on your Responsible Officer.

Once you have joined your responsible Officer can be contacted directly through the dashboards in the online members area or via the membership team.

Will I have the same responsible officer for all of my appraisals?

Responsible officers are not generally involved in the individual doctors annual Appraisal. MEDSU’s policy in line with national body guidance is that a doctor will remain with an Appraiser for three years, to achieve a balance of consistency and alternative perspective to the process.

MEDSU Video Tutorial

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