GMC consults on two future pillars of medical professionalism: continuing professional development guidance and revalidation regulations

The GMC has set out new proposals for how it will support doctors’ professional development, and what will be expected of doctors themselves, in two consultations launched today.

Doctors have a duty to keep their knowledge and skills up-to-date and, for most doctors, this is an integral part of their professionalism and desire to provide better care for patients. However, with the introduction of revalidation from late 2012, all doctors will for the first time have to show they are up-to-date with their practice on a regular basis.
 
The first consultation launched today asks for feedback on what doctors and employers should be doing on CPD and how the GMC can support doctors in keeping up-to-date, as CPD will play an important role in doctors’ revalidation.

The second consultation seeks views on the supporting regulations that will set out the legal powers, rights and responsibilities which underpin the revalidation process.

The review of continuing professional development (CPD)

An expert working group has developed new draft guidance following a major review of the GMC’s role in CPD. As part of the review, over 1,900 doctors gave their views on CPD. 78 per cent said they were able to access appropriate learning and 81 per cent had an opportunity to discuss CPD and personal development as part of the appraisal process.

The new guidance emphasises the importance of all doctors having these opportunities and provides a framework of principles around which doctors should plan, undertake and evaluate their CPD activity.

In the consultation, doctors and others are being asked for their opinions on a range of issues arising from the GMC’s role in regulating CPD. These include the responsibilities of employers and contractors in supporting doctors’ CPD activity, whether the new guidance places appropriate emphasis on doctors’ CPD being informed by the needs of patients and the public and the link between CPD and revalidation.

• Access the CPD consultation
• Further information about the CPD consultation 

Revalidation regulations

These draft regulations set out the powers the GMC will have for revalidation.

This consultation asks if the GMC has achieved the right balance in the draft regulations between the need for flexibility so that revalidation works for all types of doctors, and the need for certainty and transparency about how the process will work. The consultation includes questions about the GMC’s powers to vary a doctor’s revalidation date, the minimum notice period doctors are given that their revalidation is due and how the GMC might deal with the revalidation of doctors with no Responsible Officer.

Feedback from this consultation will also help the GMC to develop more detailed guidance for doctors on how revalidation will work for them, which will come out next year.

Niall Dickson, the Chief Executive of the GMC, said:

‘Continuing professional development only works when the professional devises and feels ownership of what he or she undertakes. It cannot be about ticking boxes – if patients are to receive good care doctors must receive the right support – that means they are given the opportunities to maintain and develop their skills.

‘We hope that these consultations will shape the best possible systems to support every doctor’s professional development.

‘The priority for us is making sure that our guidance on CPD and regulations on revalidation are flexible and straightforward enough to improve patient care and work well for every doctor.’ 

• Access the Revalidation regulations consultation
• Further information about the Revalidation regulations consultation