RCGP First To Inform Patients On Revalidation, UK

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 08 Nov 2009 - 0:00 PST

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The Royal College of GPs is the first medical organisation to produce an information leaflet for patients about the new system of revalidation for doctors in the UK.

From 2011, all doctors will need to undergo revalidation in order to demonstrate that they are up-to-date and fit to practise medicine.

Patients have a significant role to play in making revalidation effective. The leaflet encourages patients to contribute to the revalidation system by reporting a doctor's good care; make suggestions; report when things go wrong; and respond when asked for their views.

The RCGP's Patient Partnership Group (PPG) was pivotal in developing the leaflet, which provides patients with the essential facts on revalidation, how it will affect them and how they can help.

PPG Chair Antony Chuter, said: "Revalidation is about ensuring the highest standards of care are maintained by doctors in the UK, which is something we support because all patients need and deserve to have confidence in our doctors."

RCGP Chairman, Professor Steve Field, said: "Patients are at the heart of everything GPs strive for in their professional lives and the College is committed to engaging with patients as part of revalidation. Patients have a unique perspective on the performance of their GP and that information will be extremely important in the assessment of individual doctors."

The leaflet has been released this week at the RCGP annual National Primary Care Conference in Glasgow. An updated information brochure for GPs is also available here.

Source
Royal College of GPs