Appraisal and revalidation
The College recognises that for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, doctors will be fully focused on clinical activity. As such they will not necessarily be in a position to undertake CPD in the full variety of ways that accrue CPD credits, although they are likely to have gained valuable experience in other ways.
If doctors have not met the expected number of CPD points by their next appraisal, medical royal colleges will take a flexible approach and expect the same from appraisers. Doctors should not be expected to make up these 'lost' points in the following year.
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has published guidance on appraisal and revalidation during the Covid-19 outbreak as well as mental health and wellbeing support for doctors and other healthcare workers.
For further information, please visit the GMC website.
Revalidation is a process where all licensed doctors have to demonstrate to the GMC that they are up-to-date and fit to practise. Revalidation is based on a local evaluation of doctors' performances through annual appraisal. Doctors are expected to provide a core set of supporting information over each revalidation cycle at appraisal. The information from the appraisal will be assessed by a responsible officer who will then make a revalidation recommendation to the GMC, normally every five years.
All licensed doctors need to maintain a portfolio of supporting information drawn from their practice demonstrating how they are continuing to meet the requirements set out in the Good Medical Practice Framework for appraisal and revalidation. By providing evidence of supporting information for learning activities, annual appraisal enables the Responsible Officer to make a recommendation to revalidate the doctor. The online portfolio has the option to allow doctors to store and categorise supporting evidence.
