More than two out of three patients say they will have more confidence in their doctor once a new system of regular checks on doctors is introduced, according to a survey commissioned by the General Medical Council. The new system of revalidation will provide further assurance that patients trust their doctors by showing their doctor is up to date and fit to practise.
The poll of more than 2000 UK residents, conducted by Opinion Matters, asked them how confident they had felt in the last doctor they had seen and if their confidence would increase if they knew their doctor had been regularly appraised.
The vast majority of patients reported a high level of confidence with 86% saying they were confident in the doctor's skills and knowledge, although more than one in ten (14%) said they did not have confidence in the last doctor they saw.
The poll suggests that the revalidation process should provide further assurance to patients – more than 70% of those who were not confident in their last doctor agreed revalidation would increase their confidence. Even those who were confident in their last doctor said revalidation would increase their confidence further, with 69% of those who were quite confident and 63% of those who were very confident agreeing it would make a difference.
The GMC is currently consulting on how revalidation will work and is keen for anyone affected, including both doctors and patients, to respond to its plans.
One of the proposals is that the checks on doctors should include feedback from their patients. Those responding in the poll expressed overwhelming support for this idea with 95% agreeing that feedback from patients should be taken into account in reviewing a doctor's practice.
Niall Dickson, Chief Executive of the GMC said: "We know that patients in this country justifiably trust their doctors and that is vital for good medical practice. But many also think that every doctor is already subjected to regular checks, and this is not the case – what this poll shows is that they would welcome further assurance. We believe the new system of revalidation will achieve that by showing that their doctor is up to date and fit to practise. It should become an integral part of high quality care throughout the UK and if we get it right we will lead the world."
