Thousands of 'at-risk' doctors would be targeted under revalidation plan

Thousands of potentially underperforming doctors will be subjected to screening and assessment to find out if they are putting patients at risk under plans for a national revalidation system.

The assessments would be carried out on doctors deemed “at risk” of patients complaints — likely to be those who have already triggered multiple complaints, older doctors or those solo doctors practising in isolation from their peers.

The plan for targeted assessments is the core element of a proposed revalidation system — designed to ensure doctors are fit to practice —