Key definitions
Appraiser: Usually a doctor, who has been trained to support you through the appraisal process. They will review your appraisal portfolio, facilitate a discussion with you, help you determine your PDP for the coming year, and provide a summary of the discussion to your responsible officer.
Revalidation: The process by which you demonstrate to the GMC that you are keeping your skills up to date across your whole scope of work. You must be revalidated, usually every five years, in order to maintain your licence to practise in the UK. Your responsible officer will make a recommendation to the GMC when your revalidation is due. You should check your revalidation date is accurate on GMC Connect.
Responsible Officer: ROs are responsible for the clinical governance of all of the doctors within their designated body. They must be assured of your fitness to practise and will make a recommendation to the GMC about your revalidation, though the ultimate decision lies with the GMC. Your RO is able to approve a missed appraisal and defer your revalidation recommendation if it's appropriate. In our guidance, RO is used where you may contact a member of their team to whom they have delegated some advisory functions.
Designated Body: Most GPs will be connected to a designated body as part of their place on a performers list. The designated body will provide all GPs connected to them with an RO, an appraiser, and the necessary processes for them to have an appraisal each year. The GMC keeps an up to date list of all designated bodies (external PDF) with their ROs and relevant contact details.
Suitable Person: For those who do not have a connection to a designated body (and, therefore, a responsible officer), the GMC has licenced a number of Suitable Persons to make revalidation recommendations for them.