RCGP First to Inform Patients on
Revalidation
9th November
2009
The Royal College of GPs is the first medical
organisation to produce an information leaflet for patients about
the new system of revalidation for doctors in the UK.
From 2011, all doctors will need to undergo
revalidation in order to demonstrate that they are up-to-date and
fit to practise medicine.
Patients have a significant role to play in
making revalidation effective. The leaflet encourages patients to
contribute to the revalidation system by reporting a doctor’s good
care; make suggestions; report when things go wrong; and respond
when asked for their views.
The RCGP’s Patient Partnership Group (PPG) was
pivotal in developing the leaflet, which provides patients with the
essential facts on revalidation, how it will affect them and how
they can help.
PPG Chair Antony Chuter, said: “Revalidation
is about ensuring the highest standards of care are maintained by
doctors in the UK, which is something we support because all
patients need and deserve to have confidence in our doctors.”
RCGP Chairman, Professor Steve Field, said:
”Patients are at the heart of everything GPs strive for in their
professional lives and the College is committed to engaging with
patients as part of revalidation. Patients have a unique
perspective on the performance of their GP and that information
will be extremely important in the assessment of individual
doctors.”
The leaflet has been released this week at the
RCGP annual National Primary Care Conference in Glasgow. An updated
information brochure for GPs is also available at: http://www.rcgp.org.uk/pdf/E_Reval_Patient_Leaflet.pdf
FURTHER INFORMATION
RCGP Press office – 020 7344 3136
Out of hours: 07885 958 632
press@rcgp.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Royal College of General Practitioners is
a network of over 37,000 family doctors working to improve care for
patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards
of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on
education, training, research and clinical standards.