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In this context 'other doctors' are those who are not NHS consultants or GPs and covers: locums, doctors in training, on career breaks, or not currently in clinical practice.

What about appraisal of doctors in training?

Specialist registrar training and progress through the grade are noted in the Record of In Training Assessment (RITA), and are subject to assessment and development review. Appraisal for other doctors in training will be introduced in due course.

What about appraisal of locum doctors?

Like other doctors working in clinical practice, locum doctors need to have access to appraisal and professional development in order to maintain good medical practice. For them, appraisal is the key to identifying and meeting development needs and to achieving successful revalidation. The Department is currently looking at the specific organisational requirements attached to the appraisal and revalidation of locums.

What about doctors on career breaks?

Obviously, doctors on a career break away from practice will not have the same opportunity to participate in the annual appraisal process as those in practice. However, we want to ensure that the skill and experience of doctors who take career breaks is not lost to the profession. Doctors who are taking a complete break from practice within a revalidation cycle will be able to retain their licence to practise if they so wish. When subsequently seeking revalidation, they would need to demonstrate to the GMC that their return to practise within the cycle had been undertaken properly.

In November 2001, the Department launched a Flexible Careers Scheme in conjunction with NHS Professionals, who will support doctors on career breaks in identifying their development needs.

What about doctors not in clinical practice?

The public interest is best served by all doctors in medical practice - for example doctors working in public health, medical managers and academics (researchers and teachers) - demonstrating their fitness to practise on a regular basis. Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties, and other organisations such as BAMM, CHMS, COGPED and COPMeD are considering how the principles of Good Medical Practice apply to non-clinical specialties and the specialty-specific guidance that they will be able to provide. We are currently looking at the possibility of introducing a form of joint appraisal to cover clinical and non-clinical work to help the individual doctor to provide appropriate evidence for revalidation.