Features: Delivering revalidation
26 January 2009
The GMC is establishing a Programme Board to oversee the delivery of revalidation - the biggest change to medical regulation since 1858.
Representatives from the four countries of the UK will be included in a special Revalidation Programme Board being set up by the GMC to oversee the introduction of revalidation across the UK.
The Board will include representation from the four UK administrations, the medical Royal Colleges, the NHS and other healthcare providers, the BMA and BAMM, and patient representatives. We are aiming to hold the first meeting in February 2009.
The Board will be transparent in its proceedings to enable productive debate and constructive challenge to emerging proposals. Early tasks will be to agree robust project management and reporting arrangements for revalidation and to ensure an effective communications strategy so that the profession, the public and other interest groups are able to engage with the work of the Board.
The Board will be chaired by Sir Michael Pitt who has recently been appointed to the post. Sir Michael is the Chair of the South West Strategic Health Authority. He has a wide range of other experience at national level and among other things chaired an independent review into the floods which affected parts of the UK in the summer of 2007.
Sir Graeme Catto, President of the GMC, said: ‘The implementation of revalidation in the UK is a shared responsibility across a number of organisations and we need to ensure robust governance arrangements to deliver revalidation successfully. As part of this process, we are delighted to have appointed Sir Michael who brings with him a wealth of experience from the civil service, private sector and local government. We are already working very closely with the organisations that will be represented on this new board; we look forward to an even more cohesive approach with this appointment.’
Sir Michael Pitt, Chair of the Revalidation Programme Board, said: ‘The GMC has already made considerable progress towards the implementation of revalidation and has engaged widely with all those directly involved including doctors, patients and employers. The next few years will represent a significant milestone in the development of medical regulation and I’m looking forward to undertaking the role of chair at what is a very exciting and challenging time.’
GMCtoday will report regularly on the work of the Board over the coming months.
Consulting on licensing: over to you
In previous editions of GMCtoday we have described our plans for introducing the licence to practise which will be the first practical step towards the implementation of revalidation.
From autumn this year, all doctors who wish to exercise the legal privileges associated with medical practice in the UK (such as prescribing) will need to hold a licence to practise. We are currently consulting on how the new licensing arrangements will work. The consultation includes the draft regulations that will govern the licensing process, as well as guidance for doctors. It is important that we know doctors' views on our proposals.
Please respond to the consultation online at https://gmc.econsultation.net/econsult/default.aspx.
To obtain a paper copy of the consultation please email: ltpconsultation@gmc-uk.org.
For more information on licensing visit our website: www.gmc-uk.org.