Major independent evaluation launched to help shape the future of medical revalidation in UK

A major independent evaluation carried out by a national panel of researchers led by Plymouth University, has been launched to help shape the future of revalidation in the UK.

Almost 160,000 licensed doctors will be asked to undertake a survey about the revalidation process to help researchers assess where improvements need to be made. They will be contacted using the email address they provided to the General Medical Council.

Last year the General Medical Council commissioned a UK-wide collaboration of researchers (UMbRELLA) to carry out the evaluation. UMbRELLA (which stands for Uk Medical Revalidation Evaluation coLLAboration) is led by academics from the Collaboration for the Advancement of Medical Education Research and Assessment, a research unit at Plymouth University. Other members are from Belfast NHS Trust; Healthcare Improvement Scotland; NHS Education for Scotland; Manchester Business School at the University of Manchester; Improvement Science London and the Wales Deanery.

The views of doctors are being sought this month and will be followed by interviews with senior NHS staff and feedback from patients.

The findings of the research are expected to be published in 2018.

It is important that as many doctors as possible take part. The more that do, the more the research team will be able to understand revalidation as it has been implemented, which in turn will help the GMC to improve revalidation for the benefit of patients and the profession.