Revalidation

What is Revalidation?

The purpose of revalidation of a Resident Doctor’s Licence to Practise s to give patients greater confidence in the profession and support the individual in maintaining and improving their practice.

What is a Responsible Officer?

This is a senior clinician in a Designated Body who ensures that the doctors for whom they act in this nominated capacity, continue to practise safely and are properly supported and managed in maintaining their professional standards. While you are a doctor in training in the North West of England, your designated body for revalidation will be NHSE Education North West. Your Responsible Officer will be Roisin Haslett.

How can I find out further information?

The GMC have information on their website which can be found at http://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/revalidation/12383.asp

What do I need to do for the revalidation process?

You will already produce much or all of the evidence required for revalidation as a matter of course during your training, through meeting the requirements of your curriculum and periodic discussions with your educational supervisor. Resident Doctors will need to complete an enhanced Form R. The Form R is the document that all Resident Doctors sign annually, and this enhanced version requires you to answer questions about whether you have been involved in any complaints or investigated incidents over the last year. You will need to send this form back to the appropriate Deanery person, and you will be given full contact details.

In relation to completing the Enhanced Form R, what is a significant event?

The GMC state that a significant event (also known as an untoward or critical incident) is any unintended or unexpected event, which could or did lead to harm of one or more patients. This includes incidents which did not cause harm but could have done, or where the event should have been prevented, which is significant enough to be investigated by your employing organisation.

It is an expectation that all doctors as part of the requirements for revalidation are required to record and reflect on significant events in their work with the focus on what they have learnt as a result of the event/s. You only need to record this information on your form R if any formal investigations have not been completed and resolved, or if they have not been included in your portfolio.

The Enhanced Form R asks for my revalidation date, what should I enter?

The GMC set revalidation dates based on trainees’ expected CCT dates plus 60 days* or to 5 years after revalidation commenced for trainees, whichever is first.

I am taking OOPE, OOPC or Parental Leave - do I need to retain my Licence to Practice?

Whilst it is appreciated that you may not be clinically active or engaging in work that requires a licence to practise, maintenance of your licence and the requirement for revalidation is a mandatory requirement for doctors in training to retain their NTN..

What role does my Host Trust/Educational Supervisor have in my revalidation?

Conduct/capability investigation

They will be asked to confirm whether you have been involved in a conduct or capability investigation and to provide a brief summary (Incident Report). If so, has this been resolved satisfactorily with no unresolved concerns about your conduct

If there are unresolved concerns, they will be asked to give a brief summary (Incident Report) and the anticipated date of the outcome of any investigation.

Serious Untoward Incident/Significant Event investigation

If you have been involved in a Serious Untoward Incident (see GMC definition Q8), whether investigated or not, you should have discussed it with your educational supervisor and reflected on the outcome in your portfolio as part of the normal education appraisal process.

You only need to record this information on your form R if any formal investigations have not been completed and resolved, or if they have not been included in your portfolio.

The employer will be asked if you have been involved in a formal Serious Untoward Incident/Significant Event Investigation and to provide a brief summary (Incident Report).

If so, has this been resolved satisfactorily with no unresolved concerns about your fitness to practice

If there are unresolved concerns, they will be asked to give a brief summary and the anticipated date of the outcome of any investigation

Complaints

If you know you have been involved in a complaint you should have discussed it with your educational supervisor and reflected on the outcome in your portfolio as part of the normal educational appraisal process. You only need to record information on your form R if the investigation has not been completed and resolved, or if they have not been included in your portfolio.

How will I know if I have been recommended or not for revalidation?

The recommendation for revalidation to the GMC will occur every 5 years, or at the point of CCT (plus 60 days) where this comes first. An ARCP will be held every year and if there are ever any concerns that might affect a trainee’s possible revalidation these will be discussed face-to-face and recorded in the ARCP outcome form. You will receive a formal notification of your revalidation decision from the GMC.

How is my grace period accounted for?

The Dean will remain the Responsible Officer until the end of the period of grace.

Who is the Postgraduate Dean responsible for?

The Postgraduate Dean is only responsible for Trainees in GMC approved Deanery training programmes and posts. This will include LATs and trainees who are currently out of programme. The Postgraduate Dean is NOT responsible for any locums including LASs, Trust grade jobs, staff grade posts and other non-training grade posts.

Who do I contact for more information?

Nichola Attwood and Katy Jones
Programme Officers (Revalidation)

All queries relating to revalidation should be emailed to england.revalidation.nw@nhs.net

You should state:

• Your full name
• GMC number
• Specialty

Useful links

The GMC website has a comprehensive section on the revalidation of doctors in training:
http://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/revalidation/12383.asp

The GMC has a useful tool to enable you to establish your designated body and Responsible Officer:
http://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/revalidation/designated_body_tool.asp