By Lilian Anekwe
Revalidation is set to go ahead, albeit in a scaled-back form, after the GP in charge of drafting the RCGP's plans admitted ministers had gone through a ‘shaky' period.
Speaking at the RCGP conference, Professor Mike Pringle, RCGP clinical lead for revalidation, admitted he had feared the scheme would be scrapped, but was ‘confident' ministers were now firmly behind it.
He said: ‘After a shaky moment when Andrew Lansley delayed the start, the Government is becoming more and more supportive and I'm much more confident about the safety of revalidation than I was.'
Speculation revalidation would be scrapped began in June when Mr Lansley extended the pilots by a year, saying he did not have ‘sufficient confidence' in the plans.
But speaking at the conference, he said revalidation had not been kicked into the long grass: ‘The extra year of piloting allows us to test the procedures and make them fit for purpose.'
Professor Mike Pringle
