Revalidation is the process by which licensed doctors will demonstrate to the GMC that they are up to date and continue to be fit to practise. It aims to support doctors in their professional development, to contribute to improving patient safety and quality of care and to sustain and improve public confidence in the medical profession. It also seeks to facilitate the identification of the small proportion of doctors who are unable to remedy significant shortfalls in their standards of practice.

To achieve these aims the General Medical Council will require assurance that local systems of medical appraisal and clinical governance function effectively and fairly in distinguishing between satisfactory and poor performance.

In order to revalidate, a doctor must take part in an annual appraisal. At the appraisal, the doctor will discuss their practice and performance with their appraiser and use supporting information to demonstrate that they continue to meet the attributes for competent practice set out in the GMC's core guidance 'Good Medical Practice'. Revalidation will be based on 5 years of appraisal to demonstrate that a doctor is fit to practise and able to be revalidated.

NHS London has initiated a programme of work to support Designated Bodies and their Responsibile Officers to demonstrate their readiness to proceed with recommendations for revalidation, which is expected to start from late 2012. NHSL will support all Responsible Officers to ensure they have sufficient knowledge of the responsibilities of the role and an understanding of the competencies required.

Further revalidation information can be found in the Responsible Officer Network.