Mythbusters March 2019
- Appraisal Toolkit Administrator
RCGP Mythbusters – Addressing common misunderstandings about appraisal and revalidation
Dr S R Caesar, RCGP Medical Director for Revalidation, March 2019
With many thanks for the input and valuable contributions from a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, and to Dr Will Liddell, FRCGP, for providing the cartoon illustrations.
Mythbusters Contents
1. The role of appraisal in the regulation of doctors
- 1.1. Myth: I can choose my designated body or my responsible offier
- 1.2. Myth: Appraisal is the main way to identify concerns about doctors
- 1.3. Myth: Appraisal is a pass or fail event
- 1.4. Myth: My appraiser will decide about my revalidation recommendation
- 1.5. Myth: I need to undertake a minimum number of GP sessions to revalidate
- 1.6. Myth: If I share my concerns about another doctor with my appraiser, my appraiser will have a responsibility to report my concerns
- 1.7 Myth: I must have five appraisals before I can have a recommendation to revalidate
- 1.8 Myth: If I am not ready for my revalidation, I can ask to be deferred
- 1.9 Myth: My appraisal month will always be my birth month
- 1.10 Myth: It is my responsible officer's job to ensure that I have an appraisal
- 1.11 Myth: I cannot demonstrate my engagement with revalidation if I miss an appraisal
2. Appraisal organsiation and documentation
- 2.1. Myth: I must use a portfolio defined by my responsible officer to revalidate
- 2.2. Myth: My appraisal portfolio is entirely confidential
2.3. Myth: I do not need to provide examples of my reflective practice in my portfolio as long as I bring them to my appraisal
2.4. Myth: My appraiser has the choice of appraisal venue
2.5. Myth: I should do my appraisal outside working hours
2.6. Myth: My appraisal has to be face to face
2.7. Myth: I am only allowed to have three appraisals with the same appraiser (England)
2.8. Myth: I am a GP working in (any particular scope of practice e.g. a secure setting) so I must have my appraisal with someone who has experience of this setting.
- 3.1. Myth: I must document all my learning activities
- 3.2. Myth: I need to scan certificates to provide supporting information about my CPD
- 3.3. Myth: It is reasonable to spend a long time getting the supporting information together for my appraisal
- 3.4. Myth: I only need to provide all six types of GMC supporting information about my clinical role
- 3.5. Myth: All my supporting information has to apply to work in the NHS
- 3.6. Myth: Supporting information from work overseas cannot be included in my appraisal portfolio
- 3.7. Myth: Certificates of attendance are important proof of CPD
- 3.8. Myth: Having a 'disagree' statement from my appraiser is always a bad thing
- 3.9. Myth: I must get sign off statements from all parts of my scope of practice every year
3.10. Myth: I cannot use any supporting information from overseas
3.11. Myth: Having a ‘disagree’ statement from my appraisal is always a bad thing
3.12. Myth: I must get sign off statements from all parts of my scope of practice every year
- 4.1. Myth: Reflection is difficult
- 4.2. Myth: Documented reflection must be lengthy
- 4.3. Myth: I must write a separate reflective note for every hour of CPD I do
4.4. Myth: Reflection is dangerous if something has gone wrong
4.5. Myth: It is OK to make a statement saying that I will provide my reflection separately to my appraiser
4.6. Myth: My reflection is privileged data
5. Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- 5.1. Myth: Only courses and conferences count as CPD
- 5.2. Myth: I must do an equal amount of CPD every year despite different circumstances
- 5.3. Myth: As a part-time GP, I only need to do part-time CPD
- 5.4. Myth: My CPD for each part of my scope of practice must be different
- 5.5. Myth: My supporting information from part of my scope of practice already discussed elsewhere should be presented again at my medical appraisal for revalidation
- 5.6. Myth: The GMC requires GPs to complete Basic Life Support and Safeguarding Level 3 training annually to revalidate successfully
- 5.7. Myth: I cannot claim any credits for a learning activity if I do not learn anything new
- 5.8. Myth: My appraiser will be impressed by my hundreds of credits
- 5.9. Myth: I must do 50 credits of CPD every year
- 5.10. Myth: I need 50 credits of clinical CPD every year
- 5.11. Myth: I must demonstrate 50 credits each year even if I have not been able to practise for much of the time
- 5.12. Myth: 50 credits is always enough CPD
- 5.13. Myth: I can stop learning and reflecting once I have reached 50 credits of CPD
- 5.14. Myth: There is a maximum number of credits I can claim for any one type of learning or one activity
- 5.15. Myth: I cannot include contractual training as part of my CPD
6. Quality Improvement Activities (QIA)
- 6.1. Myth: Time spent on Quality Improvement Activities is not CPD
- 6.2. Myth: I must do at least one clinical audit in the five-year cycle
- 6.3. Myth: I must do all my QIA myself
- 6.4. Myth: There are specific types of QIA that I must include
- 7.1. Myth: GMC Significant Events are the same as GP learning events
- 7.2. Myth: I must include two significant events every year
8. Patient and Colleague Feedback
- 8.1. Myth: I must use the GMC questionnaire for my patient and colleague feedback
- 8.2. Myth: All my patient and colleague feedback must meet the GMC requirements
- 8.3. Myth: I must do a patient survey every year
- 8.4. Myth: I must find other ways to get feedback from patients every year
- 8.5. Myth: There are RCGP approved colleague and patient feedback questionnaires
- 8.6. Myth: I can use patient and colleague feedback from overseas
9. My Personal Development Plan (PDP)
- 9.1. Myth: My personal development plan must include…
- 9.2. Myth: My personal development plan cannot include…
- 9.3. Myth: I must have a set number of PDP goals or clinical PDP goals
- 9.4. Myth: My appraiser should tell me what to put in my PDP
- 9.5. Myth: I do not have a PDP because I have just finished my training
- 10.1. Myth: The GMC requirements for revalidation are the same as NHS requirements to stay on the performers list
- 10.2. Myth: I cannot stay on the performers list if I work fewer than 40 clinical sessions for the NHS