Appraisal 'bad way to revalidate'

The appraisal route to revalidation should be closed to increase public trust in doctors, a leading GP academic has argued.

Dr Tim van Zwanenberg, professor of postgraduate general practice at the University of Newcastle, said appraisal and revalidation were widely regarded as 'uneasy bedfellows'. Writing in the BMJ, he said revalidation may encourage some doctors in difficulty to seek early help, but may tempt others to rely on doing five appraisals and set 'easily achievable objectives'.

Dr van Zwanenberg said doctors could either choose the independent route to revalidation or the profession could use a screening tool, as used in Canada, to show those at risk of poor performance.