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RCGP guide to supporting information for appraisal and revalidation

The RCGP has approved a new guide to supporting information for appraisal and revalidation (March 2016) that aims to reduce inconsistencies in interpretation and streamline the process of providing supporting information for appraisal or revalidation.

The guide clarifies and confirms a number of points, including:

• All time spent on learning activities associated with demonstrating the impact of learning on patient care, or other aspects of practice, can be credited as continuing professional development (CPD).
• Quality is favoured over quantity - GPs should provide a few high quality examples that demonstrate how they keep up to date, review what they do, and reflect on their feedback, across the whole of their scope of work over the five year cycle.
• Only incidents that reach the GMC level of harm need to be recorded as Significant Events in the portfolio. Reflection on all such Significant Events is a GMC requirement and must be included whenever they occur.
• GPs only need to do a formal GMC compliant colleague survey once in the revalidation cycle (like all doctors).
• There are many forms of quality improvement activity and they are all acceptable to demonstrate how you review the quality of what you do, and evaluate changes that you make. There is no requirement for GPs to do a formal two cycle clinical audit once in the five year cycle.

Last updated : 30 Mar 2016

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