A medical appraisal is an annual GMC requirement where a doctor is supported to reflect on their practice, review their performance, and identify and development needs. It supports the revalidation process.

No, a medical appraisal is not a pass/fail exercise. Its purpose is to review your practice, reflect on your strengths, identify areas for development, and create a plan for future growth. The appraisal process is designed to be supportive, helping you improve your practice and meet GMC standards rather than evaluating you in a binary pass/fail way.

Medical appraisal is the annual process in which a doctor reflects on their practice, reviews their performance, and sets goals for professional development. It includes gathering evidence like Continuing Professional Development (CPD), feedback, and quality improvement activities.

Revalidation, on the other hand, is the process by which the GMC ensures that doctors are practicing safely and competently. Revalidation relies on the outcome of regular appraisals to determine whether a doctor is fit to continue practicing. While the appraisal process supports revalidation, revalidation itself is the formal decision made by the GMC regarding a doctor’s license to practice.

• A full scope-of-practice review, covering all your roles and responsibilities.
• A review of current PDPs and planning for forthcoming PDPs
• CPD activities to demonstrate ongoing professional learning.
• Quality improvement activities, such as audits or case reviews.
• Feedback from colleagues and patients, where applicable.
• Reflections on significant events and challenges in your practice.
• Reflections on compliments and complaints

The GMC dictates that appraiser’s must:

• Hold full registration and a licence to practise with the GMC
• Have a prescribed connection to a designated body (or a suitable person that we have approved)
• Be up to date with your appraiser training
• Carry out appraisals for a designated body or approved suitable person
• Have carried out at least five appraisals in the 12 months preceding an appraisal of a doctor who doesn’t have a connection
• Be discussing and reflecting on your role as an appraiser as part of your own whole practice appraisal
• Understand the context, scope and nature of work the appraisee doctor undertakes
• Not have a conflict of interest with the doctor you are appraising
• Not be in the process of licence of having your licence withdrawn

Your designated body is usually determined by your employment or contractual arrangements. For example, NHS-employed doctors typically have an NHS organization as their designated body. You can use the GMC's online tool to confirm if you have a prescribed connection to a designated body.

If you already have a prescribed connection to a designated body, then most of the time you will choose to have an appraisal with that organisation. However, it is possible to use an independent appraiser in certain situations, such as:

• A desire for a fresh perspective
• Specific professional or personal circumstances

It is essential to get agreement in writing from your Responsible Officer stating that they are happy for you to continue with an independent appraisal. We will need to see this confirmation before conducting your appraisal.

Yes, in line with GMC guidance, you can have a maximum of three consecutive appraisals with the same appraiser. This ensures objectivity and brings fresh perspectives to your reflective practice and professional development. The GMC does not specify a mandatory waiting period before returning to a previous appraiser, so it is possible to return to the existing appraiser after a gap of one year. To clarify, this means that in a 5 year revalidation period all doctors will have at least two different appraisers.

• RCGP: Your Career - Revalidation: Comprehensive guidance for GPs on revalidation, including appraisal preparation and evidence collection.
• https://www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/revalidation

• NHS England: Medical Revalidation - Appraisers: Information on the role of medical appraisers, training requirements, and best practices.
• https://www.england.nhs.uk/professional-standards/medical-revalidation/appraisers/

• AoMRC: Medical Appraisal and Revalidation: Insights into improving the quality of appraisals and supporting doctors to meet revalidation standards.
• https://www.aomrc.org.uk/revalidation/medical-appraisal/

• GMC: Additional Requirements for Doctors Without a Connection: Guidance for doctors without a designated body, detailing additional requirements for appraisal and revalidation
• https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/managing-your-registration/revalidation/guidance-for-doctors-requirements-for-revalidation/additional-requirements-for-doctors-without-a-connection