Guide to independent sector appraisal for doctors employed in the private sector
An agreement between the British Medical Association and the Independent Healthcare Forum
March 2005
During 2005 the General Medical Council (GMC) will require all practising doctors to hold a "Licence to Practise" (Licence to Practice and Revalidation for doctors', GMC publications, April 2003). Through the process of 'revalidation' it will help to ensure that doctors are up to date and fit to practise medicine throughout their careers.
[Update - March 2005: Following publication of the Fifth Report of the Shipman Inquiry in December 2004, the Department of Health announced a review of the Inquiry’s recommendations, including arrangements for the revalidation process. The GMC has therefore postponed the launch of revalidation until the outcome of the review is known. However, under the National Minimum Care Standards for Independent Healthcare Providers, annual appraisal remains a requirement for all doctors working in the independent sector.]
The GMC believes that "full participation in annual appraisal, with completed supporting documentation, during the revalidation cycle is a powerful indicator of a doctor's current fitness to practice" (Licence to Practice and Revalidation for doctors', GMC publications, April 2003) (provided it is undertaken on their principles of "Good Medical Practice" (Good Medical Practice', GMC publications, May 2001) and operated within a quality assurance system).
Appraisal is a positive process to provide feedback on performance, chart continuing progress and to identify development needs. The outcome of appraisal will provide documentation for doctors which they will subsequently present for GMC revalidation. In addition, appraisal is now a requirement of the National Minimum Care Standards for independent healthcare providers (regulation 19 (1), standard A.3.2). A similar requirement exists in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Doctors employed solely by private providers will have to complete annual appraisal documentation.
- The agreed models for use in the NHS and and Independent Sector could form the basis of documentation for appraisal (forms 1-6 apply).
Appraisal process
The appraisal process should be based on models agreed between the Department of Health and the BMA for the NHS, which were subsequently modified for private sector use by the IHF and the BMA (in agreement with the DoH). Doctors holding NHS contracts may be appraised through the NHS system, even when undertaking only a small amount of NHS work.
The appraiser must be a registered medical practitioner who will normally, though not necessarily, be from the same specialty as the doctor to be appraised. Employed doctors may wish to seek agreement from their Medical Director/Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee in conjunction with the Hospital Manager, when selecting an appraiser. Appraisers should have received training in appraisal skills.
Both appraisee and appraiser should agree the data to be provided and the timetable to complete these forms in a preparatory discussion at least two months before the formal appraisal discussion. They should agree on the information and activity to be included and on the time, place and length of the appraisal discussion.
The appraisee should complete and submit Forms 1 to 3, at least two weeks before the discussion, accompanied by the best available supporting evidence and documentation. The appraiser may complete the forms immediately after the appraisal, and will complete Form 4 (and Form 5 for employed doctors); the finalised version should be agreed before signing and added into the appraisee’s revalidation folder. The appraiser and appraisee should retain copies. A copy of form 4 will be sent to the Chief Executive and the private provider Hospital Manager.
An exit appraisal should normally be arranged on resignation or retirement as this would be helpful for any future revalidation.
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Form 1 - appraisal folder background details
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Form 2 - details of your current medical activities
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Form 3 - record of reference documentation supporting the appraisal and report on development action in the past year
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Form 4 - summary of appraisal discussion with agreed action and personal development plan
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Form 5 - personal and organisational effectiveness
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Form 6 - detailed confidential account of appraisal interview
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