More than 25,000 doctors have had their licences revalidated in the first year of General Medical Council (GMC) checks.
Over 10,000 GPs and 12,000 specialists were successfully revalidated.
The new system, introduced in December 2012, means that every doctor registered with a license to practice in the UK is now legally required to show the GMC that they are fit to practice – usually once every five years.
The system is based on an annual appraisal, where doctors must bring information about their practice over the past year. The evidence should include feedback from patients and colleagues, as well as complaints and compliments.
The doctor must also prove that they are keeping up to date with advances in clinical practice and guidance.
Niall Dickson, the GMC’s chief executive, said: “This new system of checks is a world first and over time we believe it will make a significant contribution towards making sure patients in the UK receive safe, effective care.
“There is more to do but this is about supporting doctors to provide the best possible care and making sure patients can have confidence in the care their doctors provide. We will develop the model, and we will listen and learn from the experience of those who use it as we do so. But this is a good start.”
