Supporting information for GMC revalidation
During annual appraisals you will use supporting information to demonstrate that you are continuing to meet the principles and values set out in Good Medical Practice and the public health specialty-specific guidance.
All doctors, regardless of the nature of their practice, should be able to provide the types of supporting information specified, although the specific information may differ in certain categories depending on your practice and the context in which you work.
Types of supporting information
The supporting information that you will need to bring to your appraisal will fall under four broad headings:
- General information - providing context about what you do in all aspects of your work.
- Keeping up to date - maintaining and enhancing the quality of your professional work.
- Review of your practice - evaluating the quality of your professional work.
- Feedback on your practice - how others perceive the quality of your professional work.
There are six types of supporting information that you will be expected to provide and discuss at your appraisal at least once in each five-year cycle. They are:
- Continuing professional development
- Quality improvement activity
- Significant events
- Feedback from colleagues
- Feedback from patients (where applicable)
- Review of complaints and compliments
The nature of the supporting information will reflect your particular specialist practice and your other professional roles. For example, an appropriate quality-improvement activity will vary across different specialties and roles. If you feel that you are unable to collect all pieces of supporting information you should discuss the matter with your appraiser.
Doctors who do not see patients will not have to collect patient feedback. However, we would recommend that you think broadly about what constitutes a patient in your practice. Depending on your practice, you might want to collect feedback from a number of other sources, such as families and carers, students, suppliers or customers. We recognise that, due to the nature of particular types of practice, it may not be appropriate for some doctors to collect feedback from their patients. We recommend that you discuss what would be most appropriate for you with your appraiser.
Using supporting information in appraisal
By providing all six types of supporting information over the revalidation cycle, you should, through reflection and discussion at appraisal, have demonstrated your practice against all 12 attributes outlined in Good Medical Practice Framework for Appraisal and Assessment and the public health specialty-specific guidance. This will make it easier for your appraiser to complete the appraisal and for your Responsible Officer (RO) to make a recommendation to the GMC about your revalidation.
It is not necessary to structure the appraisal formally around the framework or to map supporting information directly against each attribute. However, some doctors may prefer to do this and some appraisers may find it useful to structure the appraisal interview in this way.
In discussing your supporting information, your appraiser will be interested in what you did with the information and your reflections on that information, not simply that you collected it and maintained it in a portfolio.
An appraiser will want to know what you think the supporting information says about your practice and how you intend to develop or modify your practice as a result of that reflection. For example, how you responded to a significant event and any changes to your work as a result, rather than the number of significant events that occurred.
Collating supporting information
The Revalidation Support Team (RST) has developed a free electronic portfolio for use in appraisal for revalidation. Please note that your RO may require you to use a different format for appraisal so please check with your RO if this is the case.
The Medical Appraisal Guide (MAG) model appraisal form has been designed with the appraisal meeting in mind, in a logical manner that mirrors how the appraisal conversation may flow. It is also intended as a practical demonstration of the information in the MAG.
It is an interactive pdf, which allows you to type information into boxes and upload documents into the form. The form is designed to hold the next five years’ worth of appraisal documentation for revalidation. A short user guide has also been developed to help doctors navigate their way through the form.
It is important to note that the RST does not support the form. If a designated body wishes to use the form, they will need to provide both user guidance and IT support to their doctors and appraisers.
Examples of supporting information
FPH is developing example portfolios to assist members in gathering their supporting information. These will be uploaded in due course. If you would like to contribute to this work, please email
