Mersey revalidation appraisal pilot completed

The RCP piloted the GMC Appraisal Framework in secondary care in the Mersey region on behalf of the Revalidation Support Team and the report was presented to the UK Programme Board. 

The pilot included an exploration of what supporting information might be available and of the new appraisal process, and was supported by an electronic toolkit developed by the Revalidation Support Team. The RCP role was to co-ordinate and run the pilot, and to carry out the evaluation.

Dr Ian Starke, RCP medical director for revalidation, said that the detailed investigation and report would be crucial in improving the appraisal and revalidation processes and in meeting the concerns of UK doctors.

He said: “In ensuring we covered every aspect of appraisal, we were able to collect and fully represent the views of the pilot appraisers and appraisees from many specialties, gathering vital information about the positive and negative aspects, and perceptions of the proposed system. This means that the rumours and media speculation about the way in which the appraisal process may or may not work are now replaced with firm conclusions and recommendations. 

“The medical royal colleges, UK Programme Board,  Revalidation Support Team, GMC and BMA can now work together to implement those recommendations. The findings of this study have already been shared with those developing the next series of revalidation pilot studies, and this process will continue.

“I am optimistic that the work carried out by the RCP will lead to improvements all round for any future pilots and the final roll-out of revalidation, and we will be able to use effectively the extra year before implementation suggested by the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley.”