Revalidation: A world first in medical regulation

The revalidation of doctors was introduced in the UK in December 2012, and means that all licensed doctors must demonstrate periodically that they are up-to-date and fit to practise. Regular appraisals, based on the General Medical Council's core guidance for doctors, will be used by responsible officers to evaluate a doctor's practice based on six types of supporting information, including feedback from patients and colleagues. In this commentary, as the Chair of the General Medical Council and Consultant Physician, I provide an overview of the history of revalidation and discuss the role of the new system of checks (which is being watched with interest by regulators around the world) ensuring that medical practice is of a high quality, that doctors are supported in their professional development and, most importantly, that patients can have confidence in the doctors they consult.