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GMP – a draft framework for appraisal and assessment

The White Paper assigns significant roles to the GMC in setting standards for revalidation.

The White Paper confirms that re-licensing will be ‘based on agreed generic standards of practice set by the GMC, a revised system of NHS appraisal for doctors and any concerns known to the doctor’s medical director (or responsible officer) and the GMC Affiliate.’

The White Paper also proposes that, to support re-licensing, the GMC should translate Good Medical Practice into a framework against which individual doctors’ practice can be appraised and objectively assessed. Our role is to provide the core content of revalidation, and for other organisations to embed these in the context of appraisal systems or assessment for recertification.

In taking forward the White Paper proposals, it will be important to minimise burdens and avoid duplication. The Council has, therefore, concluded that, as a starting point, revalidation should be viewed as a single set of processes, with two potential outcomes – re-licensing and, where applicable, recertification.

With this in mind, we have reviewed Good Medical Practice, and derived from it attributes that cover the core requirements of good practice. Those attributes are elaborated in a framework, which shows suggested generic standards, again taken from Good Medical Practice, and possible sources of evidence. The evidence includes ‘tools for feedback about doctors’ practice, which may take the form of questionnaires or multi‑source feedback.

The framework provides a foundation for the development of the appraisal and assessment systems that will from a key part of revalidation. We, therefore, regard it as important that this framework has the confidence and support of all our key interest groups.

If you would like further information about the background to the framework, or have any comments or suggestions about this work, please e-mail standards@gmc-uk.org.

Download the framework

Download the draft framework for appraisal and assessment (55kb, pdf)