Revalidation

UK doctors holding a licence to practise must revalidate. Details about the GMC process, including how to find your revalidation connection can be found here. Many FFLM members will have a connection to a designated body, for example if part of their work is for an NHS organisation or if they are on a recognised training scheme. For those members without a connection to a designated body they may be able to connect to a Suitable Person.

The GMC has approved a Suitable Person to make revalidation recommendations for doctors working within forensic and legal medicine (that are Fellows, Members, Licentiates, Affiliates or Associates of the FFLM) who do not have a connection to a Responsible Officer at a designated body. If you wish to enquire about or utilise this service (for which a fee is charged) please contact the FFLM by emailing forensic.medicine@fflm.ac.uk putting “Suitable Person Enquiry” in the subject heading and further details will then be provided to you.

In order to revalidate your Responsible Officer or Suitable Person will need to make a positive recommendation to the GMC once every five years. They will need to know that you have:

  • Had an appraisal each year that covers your whole scope of practice;
  • collected and reflected on certain types of supporting information, including: CPD activity, quality improvement activity/audit, significant events, patient/client feedback, colleague feedback and complaints and compliments; and
  • told them about any incident or event that may raise a concern about your fitness to practise or where restrictions have been placed on your practice.

Further definitive guidance on the revalidation process is available from the GMC.

The FFLM don’t have a form produced by us but we recommend the MAG4 form, used by the NHS, which can be found here (just need to scroll down to the bottom of the page and access the MAG4.2 form).  During the COVID pandemic there has been use of a much simplified form, that is hosted and publicised by the AoMRC, and can be found on this webpage.  The first box (“Medical appraisal template 2020”) is the one that delivers the actual form for use, and it is only one side of A4, so very easy to use.