Regulating doctors, ensuring good medical practice

GMC to be advised that the UK is ready for revalidation

GMC Statement

20 Sep 2012

The UK Revalidation Programme Board (UKRPB) met today to discuss readiness across the UK to begin revalidation.

Following the meeting, Sir Keith Pearson, Chair of the UKRPB, will be writing to Professor Sir Peter Rubin, Chair of the GMC, to confirm that all four countries are ready to support the introduction of revalidation later this year, following statements of readiness received from the four health departments of the UK.

The GMC will consider these statements, as well as its own readiness assessment made earlier this year which confirmed it was ready to start, at its Council meeting on Thursday 27 September 2012 and agree whether to recommend to the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt.

The Secretary of State will then consider the GMC’s recommendation and make a decision about whether revalidation should begin later this year.

Professor Sir Peter Rubin, Chair of the GMC, said: ‘This is an important step on the way to starting revalidation. I look forward to receiving Sir Keith’s letter and to discussing it at our Council meeting next week.’

Notes to editors:

1. Sir Keith Pearson’s letter to Professor Sir Peter Rubin will be issued shortly; we will post it on our website.

2. For more information about revalidation and our plans to introduce it in early December 2012, please visit our website at www.gmc-uk.org/revalidation.

For further information please contact the Media Relations Office on 020 7189 5454, out of hours 020 7189 5444/ 07920 461497, email press@gmc-uk.org, website www.gmc-uk.org.

The General Medical Council registers and licenses doctors to practise medicine in the UK. Our purpose is summed up in the phrase: Regulating doctors, Ensuring Good Medical Practice.

The law gives us four main functions:

  • keeping up-to-date registers of qualified doctors
  • fostering good medical practice
  • promoting high standards of medical education and training
  • dealing firmly and fairly with doctors whose fitness to practise is in doubt