Preparing for revalidation

Since December 2012 all doctors who wish to retain a license to practice have to revalidate every 5 years. This applies to equally to all doctors in paediatric practice including consultant paediatricians, SSASG doctors and trainees. Practitioners have to demonstrate that they meet generic standards as applied to their post in the GMC's Good Medical Practice to retain a license to practice. Paediatricians must demonstrate that they meet the GMC-approved RCPCH standards by submitting appropriate supporting information to annual appraisal.Revalidation will require five completed, signed annual appraisals; which will contain five personal development plans, evidence of 5 years of continuing professional development activities (including evidence of learning such as reflective notes), multisource feedback by colleagues, multisource feedback by patients, involvement in quality improvement activities (e.g. audit), and research, publications, outcome data, complaints and critical incidents and of compliance with clinical governance procedures.Trainees will revalidate first 5 years after full registration and then when they obtain the certificate of completion of training (CCT). Their Responsible Officer (RO) will be the Postgraduate Dean. Trainees must submit an annual Form R before their ARCP, with a declaration of involvement in any serious untoward incidents (SUIs) and include a reflective note on each SUI in their portfolio.