Policy Hub
On 23 July 2008, the Department of Health (DH) published a report (Medical revalidation – principles and next steps) which outlines proposals to improve patient standards by requiring doctors to renew their professional registration every five years.
Produced by an expert working group chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, the report is based on wide-ranging discussions of the proposals in the government report Trust, assurance and safety – the regulation of health professionals in the 21st century - http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_065946.
A new revalidation system is being established in response to concerns raised by the Shipman inquiry and several other investigations into the conduct of particular doctors. The report’s proposals seek to provide assurance that doctors are practising to the standard that patients, the public and the profession itself expect.
Patients will play an important role in this process and will be asked for a range of views on their doctor, including effective communication; patient involvement in treatment decisions; care co-ordination and support for self-care and the level of respect shown to patients.