Written evidence from the Royal College
of Surgeons of England Patient Liaison Group (REV 20)
The Patient Liaison Group (PLG) of the Royal College
of Surgeons of England is an independent body, which reports regularly
to the College's Council. Comprising a majority of lay members
(including its Chair), it provides a patient, carer, and public
perspective across core College business. This submission represents
the considered views of the PLG itself, and not necessarily those
of the wider College or of its members.
REVALIDATION OF
DOCTORS
Revalidation of doctors is intended to improve medical
practice, and to ensure that all doctors are up to date with new
procedures and practising at the highest standard to equalise
patient care and safety across the board.
- The PLG think that all doctors should undertake
revalidation as soon as possible. Revalidation always seems to
be two years away.
- The process of revalidation needs to be as straightforward
as possible, including all doctors in the process, so that patient
care is at the same level everywhere.
- Strengthening annual appraisals may be one way
to accelerate the process. However, this needs to be carefully
tailored to medicine revalidation, and not just a resort to speed
up putting in place some kind of quality assurance.
- A register to ensure all doctors take part in
an annual appraisal so no one who may be causing problems slips
through the net.
- One way to introduce annual appraisals that are
of a high enough standard to ensure that all doctors are being
evaluated the same way would be to institute a fine for any Trust
failing to produce an appraisal system that is up to the standard
set.
- Another is to institute training of the annual
appraisers to ensure that the standard is set at the same high
level that patients have a right to expect.
- A plan needs to be in place of how to handle
unsatisfactory appraisals and revalidation if they come to light.
- As appraisals are for patient safety, and security
in the level of patient care, then the PLG feels that patients
should be able to give more regular feedback about the care they
receive, such as online or hospital feedback letters. This enables
patients to interact with their doctors and their individual care.
- We endorse the use of objective relevant outcome
data to be used in revalidation.
November 2010
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