GP Appraisal

The GP Appraisal section is designed to provide practices and individual GPs with some guidance on the appraisal process and to make the necessary forms easily available so that they can be completed on a Word Processing package or printed off blank and completed by hand. By clicking on the labels in the left margin you will be taken to other pages and links to the various resources.

Appraisal for GPs has been carried out nationally since April 2002. The process has been taken up by most PCTs since April 2003 and all MK Principals in General Practice whether in PMS or nGMS are appraised annually

Non-principals currently registered with Milton Keynes PCT are now appraised annually as a condition of their remaining on the 'Performers list'

The process is overseen by the Clinical Governance Dept of the PCT and the CPD Tutor Dr Ann Howard. The purpose of appraisal has always been acknowledged by the PCT as an opportunity:

To support and encourage good clinical practice
To promote personal development and PDPs
To assess the educational needs of the GP workforce
To flag financial and logistical constraints on everyday practice

We do not regard appraisal as a tool for performance management nor for detecting and dealing with poor performance and doctors being appraised should not feel that they are under scrutiny for disciplinary action. The process is confidential and the only information returned to the CPD tutor is the PDP grid (which is anonymised) and the signing off form from Form 4.

Appraisers have been advised by the Deanery not to keep records of appraisals long term. It is the responsibility of the appraisee to keep their records for revalidation purposes.

Please refer to the very useful FAQ on this site prepared by Richard Flew from the deanery.