Healthcare undergoes continuous scrutiny for being able to live up to its best. Around the corner, authoritative bodies implement significant changes and introduce necessary regulations to enhance the overall performance of the healthcare industry. These regulations and policies are also responsible for ensuring high quality medical care is being delivered.

To promote quality healthcare in the United Kingdom, NHS England and the GMC joined together to implement regulations that every doctor in the country must follow. They introduced the process of medical revalidation for doctors.

What is Medical Revalidation?

Medical Revalidation is a process through which GMC (General Medical Council) approves the continuation of a doctor’s licence to practice in the country. Every doctor in the UK who practices medicine and desires to continue with the practice must find a designated body in the UK to revalidate. It is a process to:

  • Develop doctor’s practice
  • Revalidate their licence to practice
  • Drive improvements in the clinical governance
  • Give confidence to the patients

What Is The Purpose Of Revalidation For Doctors?

The purpose of the process of revalidation for doctors is to assure the patients and the public that the doctors are fit-to-practice and are updated in their skills and technical developments. It is a supportive and development process that is determined to bring out the best care and support for the patients in the UK. Generally, the process of revalidation for doctors takes place every 5 years to inform the GMC that the doctor is updated with the current developments in the healthcare sector, and skills, and can work.

Do You Need A Designated Body For The Process Of Revalidation for Doctor?

Yes. Being a doctor in the UK, revalidation for doctors becomes mandatory. It is an indicator that the doctor meets the professional standards set by the GMC. To get revalidated each doctor must have a formal link with an organization, known as a designated body in the UK. Find a designated body to gain access to the revalidation process and ensure continuing your medical practice.

What Is A Designated Body?

A designated body is an organization that is responsible for providing doctors with regular appraisal and revalidation support. It is an organization where a licensed doctor has a professional, education or employment connection.

Regardless of your years’ of experience, or tenure of service, you only have one designated body for GMC revalidation for doctors in the UK. And only UK organisations can be Designated Bodies because the legal rules that determine this only cover this country.

If you need any help in establishing who your Designated Body (DB) is, you can contact us, at Solas Healthcare. We will help you to find your DB and keep you informed about any information that you seek on the subject.

What Is The Role Of A Designated Body For Healthcare?

A designated body in UK ensures to have a Responsible Officer, who makes the recommendation about a doctor. A Responsible Officer (RO) is a senior clinician in a Designated Body. The RO ensures that the doctors for whom they act in this nominated capacity are able to continue their practice safely and are supported and managed in maintaining the professional standards, set by the GMC.

The designated body has a duty to support the Responsible Officer in the role by resourcing them appropriately. It is the designated body who are responsible for producing a portfolio of supporting information to the GMC that the practice of the doctor meets:

  • Expectations of their managed healthcare organization.
  • General practitioner standards as set out by the appropriate Medical Royal College and Faculty.
  • Standards laid down by the GMC as mentioned in Good Medical Practice.

The information that GMC considers from the responsible officer of a designated body for a positive revalidation recommendation includes the following:

  • Significant events in the five years
  • Quality improvement activities
  • Continuing professional development
  • Feedback from doctor’s colleagues
  • Feedback from the patients
  • Review of compliments and complaints received

What Is The Benefit Of Being Connected To A Designated Body?

If you are connected to a designated body, you will have a responsible officer who is able to oversee the systems which support revalidation (such as appraisal and clinical governance).

They will also be able to make a revalidation recommendation for you.

What Happens If You Are Not Connected To A Designated Body?

If the organisation that you are employed or contracted by is not a designated body, the GMC must get assurance about your fitness to practise directly from you. This is obtained through appraisals, annual returns, and GMC revalidation assessments.

Appraisals

Annual Returns

  • Provision of medical services statements (PMSS) from all organisations at which you have carried out medical practice
  • A form from your appraiser to provide details of your appraisal (REV12)
  • A certificate of good standing (if you have been registered with an overseas regulator within the last 12 months)

GMC Revalidation Assessment

  • Attend a written MCQ examination when your revalidation is due

Things To Consider If You Are Finding Your Connection For Revalidation

If you are employed with more than one organization, you may want to consider the following things for finding your connection for revalidation:

  • Enlist the organizations that you’ve worked for during the last 12 months.
  • Mention the time and clinical practice you do at each of the workplaces.
  • Keep in mind the basis on which you are employed, full-time or contractual.
  • Talk to the organization if you are unsure about your employment status.
  • List any membership organization you are associated/registered with.

When Is An Organization A Designated Body?

As per the Responsible Officer Regulations, some organizations are automatically designated. These bodies are mentioned in the list of Schedule Part 1 of the regulation. Other organizations, mentioned in Schedule Part 25, become the designated bodies when they have a prescribed connection with a minimum of one doctor through employment or contractual basis.

Where can you find guidance as to whether your organization is a designated body?

If you are willing to find an answer to whether your organization is a designated body, Solas Healthcare might prove to be an efficient destination for you. To make you acquainted with the different and essential information about the Regulations of GMC and NHS England, this organization plays a vital role.

How Can Solas Healthcare Help?

Solas Healthcare can help you with:

  • Establishment of designated body status for your healthcare entity
  • Appointment of a responsible officer
  • Drawing up documentation to show regulatory compliance
  • Liaising with the General Medical Council and NHS England
  • Creating and maintaining a database to store appraisal and revalidation data
  • Governance activity if there are significant concerns or complaints about your doctors
  • Arranging annual appraisals
  • Management of revalidation recommendations
  • Submitting Annual Board Reports to NHS England

Why Choose Solas Healthcare?

Solas Healthcare is one of the largest providers of high-quality responsible officer services in the UK. We provide you with the service of a skilled, knowledgeable, and approachable responsible officer who is able to help you with all of your appraisal and revalidation requirements. Our services are competitively priced ensuring you also receive excellent value for money.

Contact us now so that we can advise you on how we can help your organisation.