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To deliver this purpose in the context of general practice, the objectives of revalidation are: Primary objective
To demonstrate that doctors on the GP register continue to meet the standards that apply to the discipline of general practice Secondary objectives To promote continuing professional development among GPs To encourage improvement in the quality of care, patient safety, team-working, communications and appropriate behaviour of GPs To identify GPs, as far as is practicable, for whom there are significant concerns about their fitness to practise and to detect early signs of deteriorating performance To reassure, as far as is possible, individual patients, the public, colleagues and the NHS that individual GPs are up to date and fit to practise The importance of the 2008 Good Medical Practice for General Practitioners in this process is that, by elaborating on the GMC’s Good Medical Practice, it provides important guidance to GPs on the expectations of their peers and the public as to their standards of care and behaviour. This document, therefore, is based on the structure and text of the GMC’s Good Medical Practice. Each section quotes the GMC’s Good Medical Practice, offers some context for general practice, and then has some points that describe an ‘exemplary GP’ and some that describe an ‘unacceptable GP’. These are not intended to be exhaustive, but indicative. The statements in this document will inform the standards expected in revalidation. The ‘exemplary GP’ statements will inform the formative discussions in GP annual appraisals while the descriptors of an ‘unacceptable GP’ and the requirements for revalidation will inform an appraiser’s judgements.