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IDF supports the IHAS' successful bid for the NHS Revalidation Support Team Independent Sector Medical Appraisal Pilot

On 1 July 2011 the NHS Revalidation Support Team (RST)www.revalidationsupport.nhs.uk granted a significant Medical Appraisal Pilot (the pilot) to Independent Healthcare Advisory Services (IHAS) to host following a successful tender application. IHAS submitted the application with its partners the Independent Doctors Federation (IDF) and the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors (BACD).

The pilot is aimed at delivering 150 appraisals for doctors who work in relatively unmanaged care environments and isolated areas of practice. The project and its evaluation will run until March 2012 and IHAS will coordinate the project, with the IDF and BACD delivering the appraisal framework prescribed by the NHS Revalidation Support Team to the target group of doctors. The project will be governed by a Steering Group chaired by Sally Taber IHAS Director and Andrew Wilby is IHAS Project Lead. The IDF is represented by Dr Stuart Sanders, Responsible Officer, and Mrs Rachel Whitelegg, Appraisal Administrator.

The IDF has a successful established medical appraisal framework and its membership already includes doctors from the target group as well as the capability to increase the number of appraisers. Doctors who participate through the IDF will be required to be members of the IDF and meet its membership criteria and the IDF will deliver the majority of the pilot appraisals and evaluations.

BACD will deliver a smaller proportion of the appraisals and has already trained a number of appraisers in preparing for revalidation requirements. Doctors working in cosmetic practice are an important group to include in the pilot. Dr Paul Myers has been working with IHAS with a view to setting up their own appraisal programme.

The pilot will test whether the Medical Appraisal Guide can be used by the individual doctors working in relatively unmanaged care environments and following the evaluation a report will be made of the evaluation of this pilot to contribute to the NHS Revalidation Support Team’s report on delivering revalidation.

To enable the engagement work in reaching the doctors working in more isolated practice areas the BMA Private Practice Committee (PPC) has already agreed to publicise the pilot and support IHAS by identifying and inviting suitable doctors to participate in the pilot.

IHAS is responsible for the project to deliver the agreed outcomes for the NHS Revalidation Support Team on time and within budget and welcomes any enquiries from doctors interested in participating in this pilot which has built in incentives for doctors participating with the IDF and BACD. IHAS with its partners will be publicising the work and developing information to signpost doctors in the target group.

iDF Members should contact info@idf.uk.net to find out more about the project.

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