All doctors in the UK face annual assessments which could see licences removed from poor performers.
All doctors in the UK face annual assessments which could see licences removed from poor performers.
The proposals mean GPs, hospital consultants and private practitioners would have to renew their licences every five years.
The proposals mean GPs, hospital consultants and private practitioners would have to renew their licences every five years.
The plans will be outlined by the Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson.
The plans will be outlined by the Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson.
He will call for senior doctors to assess others who are practising in their area, to make sure they are not putting their patients at risk.
He will call for senior doctors to assess others who are practising in their area, to make sure they are not putting their patients at risk.
But in principle we support the idea that doctors should be looking to improve themselves Dr Hamish MeldrumBritish Medical Assocation
The annual assessments will examine prescribing habits, adequate assessment of a patient's condition and any personal issues which might affect their work such as drug or alcohol abuse.
The annual assessments will examine prescribing habits, adequate assessment of a patient's condition and any personal issues which might affect their work such as drug or alcohol abuse.
Patients will also be asked for their feedback as part of the doctors' assessment process.
Patients will also be asked for their feedback as part of the doctors' assessment process.
The report, Medical Revalidation: Principle and Next Steps, will also suggest measures to ensure that doctors are keeping up to date with medical advances.
The report, Medical Revalidation: Principle and Next Steps, will also suggest measures to ensure that doctors are keeping up to date with medical advances.
It is expected to say that regular assessment would raise standards among the 150,000 doctors practising in the UK, rather than being a method for discipline.
It is expected to say that regular assessment would raise standards among the 150,000 doctors practising in the UK, rather than being a method for discipline.
The assessments - known as revalidation - were first proposed by the General Medical Council as far back as 1998 as a way to win back the trust of the British public after a series of medical scandals.
The assessments - known as revalidation - were first proposed by the General Medical Council as far back as 1998 as a way to win back the trust of the British public after a series of medical scandals.
However, the plans have since gone through a series of modifications.
Sir Liam will build on proposals set out in a goverment White Paper published last year.
Paperwork fears
Paperwork fears
Dr Sarah Jarvis, a GP and spokeswoman for the Royal College of General Practitioners, says she welcomes annual assessments for all practising doctors.
Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the British Medical Association, said most doctors already went through regular appraisals, and the new system would build on this.
"Everybody is talking about how doctors are only in it for the money, they don't care about their patients.
He said: "We are anxious to see that any system is proportionate, that it does not take doctors unduly away from their patients, and that it is fair to doctors.
"That's just not true, most of us are really happy to be able to prove that.
"But in principle we support the idea that doctors should be looking to improve themselves."
"The only thing that we're worried about, I think, is that it's going to be yet another layer of bureaucracy and yet more paperwork that we have to fill in that will keep up away from patients and make us more difficult to get hold of during consultation times."
But Dr Martyn Lobley, a GP in London, warned it was not straightforward to assess a doctor's capabilities, as often the job was to tell people they were not ill.
But Dr Martyn Lobley, a GP in London, warned it was not straightforward to assess a doctor's capabilities, as often the job was to tell people they were not ill.
"That is what this appraisal system really can't pick up on," he said.
"That is what this appraisal system really can't pick up on," he said.
Claire Rayner, president of the Patients Association, said: "I'm delighted.
Claire Rayner, president of the Patients Association, said: "I'm delighted.
"It's a complicated business, medicine, to say the least, and it is much too easy to say: 'All you have to do is get your qualification, shove up your plates, and get on with the job'."
"It's a complicated business, medicine, to say the least, and it is much too easy to say: 'All you have to do is get your qualification, shove up your plates, and get on with the job'."
Are you affected by the issues in this story? Are you a doctor? What is your reaction to these proposals? Send us your comments using the form below.
Are you affected by the issues in this story? Are you a doctor? What is your reaction to these proposals? Send us your comments using the form below.
