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Supporting information required for revalidation ‘unclear’, says RCGP

Exclusive The RCGP has been forced to remove all references to the supporting information GPs will need to supply in the introductory phase of revalidation, because of ‘uncertainty' around how the system will be implemented.

The new RCGP revalidation guide, due to be signed off later this month, scraps any reference to the detailed requirements that had been listed for the initial phase, including for a GP to conduct a survey of their patients. And it includes an agreement to pilot the system among locums for the first time, amid concerns they could struggle to meet its requirements without practice support.

A draft document seen by Pulse states: ‘The first cycle may be conducted over three, four or five years – the policy decisions have not been made. In view of the uncertainty around length of the introduction phase, this section has been withdrawn from this version. A revised version will be reinstated when we have clarity on the timetable.'

The document also says the RCGP ‘will contribute to an NHS pilot for locums in 2011/12'.

The NHS Revalidation Support Team said pilots would appraise over 100 GP locums between October and December to allow for an analysis and evaluation before March 2012.

Professor Mike Pringle, RCGP clinical lead for revalidation, said: ‘We took the references out because it was very unclear to us how first-year revalidation will be implemented. Including that advice is premature.'