Spectator letters: In defence of the GMC and Ukip members, and how Rachmaninov spelled Rachmaninov | 23 October 2014

Health check

Sir: I have to take issue on (at least) three counts with Dr Vernon Coleman and his absurd suggestion that the GMC should be abolished (‘Get rid of the GMC’, 18 October). I administer the annual appraisal and revalidation process at an acute hospital. First, revalidation of licensed doctors is based on an evidence-based annual appraisal which is designed to demonstrate that doctors are up to date and fit to practise — surely not too much to ask? It takes the average doctor about five hours each year to complete the ‘reams of forms’.

Secondly, the colleague and patient ‘report forms’ are required once during the five-year revalidation cycle — and to ensure credible and candid comment is received, the doctor must have no direct part in collecting and analysing it.

Thirdly, revalidation was not the invention of the GMC (lay that at the door of the Department of Health), and its design took almost 20 years before the British Medical Association would agree that something was better than nothing.

The current process is not perfect and it will repay some redesign. But don’t blame the messenger — Dr Coleman’s nonsense about his motoring offences is not part of the GMC requirement.

I could go on, but surely everyone would agree that checking a doctor is up to date and fit to practise at least once a year is not a lot to ask? Perhaps those who have decided to duck their revalidation and retire should have done so anyway — what did they have to fear?
Andrew R. Forsyth
Giggleswick, North Yorkshire

The right prescription

Sir: Copies of the articles by Max Pemberton and Vernon Coleman about the NHS and GMC respectively (18 October) should be framed and hung on the wall of every office at the Department of Health.