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Key facts and statistics
- Patient safety and quality care - Revalidation aims to ensure that healthcare professionals remain fit to practise, thereby enhancing patient safety and the quality of care.
- Regular intervals - Most healthcare professionals must revalidate every 3-5 years, depending on their profession.
- Regulatory bodies - Key regulatory bodies include the General Medical Council (GMC), Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and General Dental Council (GDC).
Key definitions
- Revalidation - A process by which healthcare professionals demonstrate that they remain up to date and fit to practise.
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD) - Ongoing education and training activities that professionals undertake to maintain and enhance their skills.
- Appraisal - A systematic review of an individual's performance, often involving feedback from colleagues and patients.
Importance of revalidation
Revalidation is crucial for several reasons:
- Maintaining standards - Ensures that healthcare professionals adhere to the latest standards and practices.
- Public confidence - Enhances trust in the healthcare system by ensuring professionals are competent and up to date.
- Professional development - Encourages continuous learning and professional growth.
Best practices for revalidation implementation
For nurses (NMC)
- CPD requirements - Nurses must complete 35 hours of CPD, with 20 hours being participatory.
- Practice hours - Evidence of 450 practice hours over three years is required.
- Reflective accounts - Five reflective accounts on CPD activities and practice-related feedback.
- Confirmation - A third party, usually a senior nurse or line manager, must confirm the nurse's revalidation evidence.
For doctors (GMC)
- Annual appraisals - Doctors must undergo annual appraisals based on the GMC's Good Medical Practice framework.
- CPD activities - Engagement in CPD activities relevant to their scope of practice.
- Feedback and reflection - Incorporating feedback from patients and colleagues and reflecting on their practice.
- Supporting information - Evidence of quality improvement activities, significant events, and personal development plans.
For dental professionals (GDC)
- CPD cycle - Dental professionals must complete 100 hours of CPD over a five-year cycle.
- Mixed learning - CPD activities must include a mix of general and verifiable CPD.
- Annual declaration - An annual statement confirming CPD compliance must be submitted to the GDC.
For Allied Health Professionals (HCPC)
- CPD standards - Meeting the HCPC's five CPD standards, including keeping a record of CPD activities and demonstrating their impact on practice.
- Portfolio submission - Submission of a CPD portfolio if selected for audit.
- Reflection - Reflecting on how CPD activities improve their practice and benefit service users.
Recommendations for healthcare organisations
- Structured support - Provide structured support and resources to assist healthcare professionals with their revalidation.
- Training and development - Offer access to training and development opportunities through accredited platforms like ComplyPlus™.
- Feedback mechanisms - Establish robust mechanisms for collecting and acting on feedback from patients and colleagues.
- Documentation - Maintain comprehensive documentation to support revalidation evidence.
Conclusion
Revalidation is an essential process that upholds the standards of healthcare practice and promotes continuous professional development. By adhering to revalidation requirements, healthcare professionals can ensure they deliver high-quality care and maintain public trust.
Click here for more information on how ComplyPlus™ can streamline your revalidation process and support your compliance needs. Embrace the future of healthcare compliance with ComplyPlus™—your partner in excellence and professional development.
About the author
Dr Richard Dune
With over 20 years of experience, Richard blends a rich background in NHS, the private sector, academia, and research settings. His forte lies in clinical R&D, advancing healthcare tech, workforce development and governance. His leadership ensures regulatory compliance and innovation align seamlessly.
