Revalidation Services

Locum doctor revalidation support

Medacs Healthcare has been at the forefront of revalidation for locum doctors since its inception in 2012. Our dedicated revalidation team is on hand to provide all of the advice and guidance you need to revalidate as a locum doctor.

Information regarding our revalidation service is available below.

Revalidation during the COVID-19 pandemic

In March 2020, appraisal, revalidation and associated activities were suspended for the majority of doctors in the UK due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. This included the compiling of portfolios, recording of CPD, quality improvement and formal feedback.

Due to restart in October 2020, the process of appraisal and revalidation will be slightly different to how it was before its suspension, but will remain consistent with existing GMC guidance. For more information, click here.

What you need to know

1. You must ensure you have a 'designated body' and a Responsible Officer to make a recommendation to the GMC about your fitness to practice.  

Your designated body will arrange your annual appraisal and help you through the revalidation process. If you have done most of your hours with Medacs Healthcare in the previous 12 months, we will act as your designated body. 

2. You need an annual appraisal with a trained appraiser. 

Even though revalidation is only every five years, all doctors who hold a Licence to Practice are required to engage in annual appraisals. If Medacs Healthcare is your designated body, we can arrange appraisals on your behalf. 

3. It is your responsibility to collect six different types of supporting information to provide and discuss at your appraisal:

• Continuing professional development
• Quality improvement activity
• Significant events
• Feedback from colleagues
• Feedback from patients
• Compliments/complaints

Simple revalidation tips 

Make time to get appropriate support in place. Ensure you have an appraisal date and a Responsible Officer well in advance of your revalidation date. 

Take every opportunity to gather material for your portfolio. Make reflective notes after every locum shift, considering the events that happened, what you learned from them and how you might use the experience to adapt your approach in the future. Where possible, get written feedback from colleagues.

Stay on top of your CPD. Work time into your schedule to attend training courses, conferences and clinical meetings. Make sure you record any CPD activities you undertake, including contributions to peer learning.

Our revalidation services

Locum doctors who choose to link to us automatically receive the attention and dedication of our dedicated revalidation team who are on hand to expertly guide you through the revalidation process. Medacs Healthcare supports locum doctors with:

• An annual appraisal with a trained appraiser
• Access to a secure online toolkit to keep all supporting documentation in one place
• An online multi-source feedback tool, which distributes and collates colleague and patient feedback
• A dedicated revalidation support team to give doctors advice and guidance on revalidation
• Free mandatory online training and Basic Life Support (BLS) courses
• Medacs Academy - a membership programme that gives doctors access to free CPD accredited courses and much more
• The services of a Responsible Officer, Dr June Picton

How to start your revalidation process

If you are interested in finding out more about the revalidation services we offer, here's how to get in touch.

If you are already a member of the Medacs Healthcare family, you can speak to your Placement Officer who will be able to find out if you have done most of your locum hours with Medacs Healthcare in the previous 12 months. If we can confirm that you have, a member of our revalidation team will be in contact to guide you through the support we can offer.

Medacs Academy

Why not join Medacs Academy, too? As well as access to free CPD accredited courses that will help with revalidation, you will gain access to much more besides. To find out about all member benefits, simply visit the Medacs Academy UK page and join by completing the quick enrolment form.

Finally, if you are not registered with Medacs Healthcare, or if you have a general question regarding revalidation, please contact our team via email or complete the quick form below.

Revalidation feedback

To date, we have assisted over 1,000 locum doctors with revalidation. Here is just some of the feedback we have received during that time. 

Relevant Links

• A Brief Overview of Revalidation
• Preparing for Revalidation
• Busting the Jargon