Don’t let them take it away

‘Legal Briefing’

Revalidation can prove to be a costly trap for the unwary doctor in private practice. Hempsons solicitor and qualified doctor Tania Francis gives some sound advice to help ensure you stay licensed to practise.

For most doctors, appraisals and revalidation are straightforward.

If you are employed by an NHS trust – even if you also have a private practice – that trust is likely to be your ‘designated body’ (DB) and you will have a Responsible Officer (RO), often the medical director of your employing trust.

If you are a GP in England on the Performers List, your DB will be NHS England and your RO will be based in your local area team.

Purely private doctors have a number of other options for their DB, including the private hospital where they work or have practising privileges, the Independent Doctors Federation and some of the royal college faculties.