Introduction

GP Appraisal is an integral part of continuing professional development of general practitioners in Scotland. GP's in Scotland are appraised by their peers on an annual basis. Appraisal is all about development and formative assessment. It is not a judgemental process, a summative assessment, or a test of any kind.

Lanarkshire Primary Care Trust has appointed ten GP appraisers, of which Dr Ooi is one. The appraisers have been trained to facilitate the appraisal process for the doctors. They are not "super doctors" in any shape or form. They form a cross section of general practitioners throughout Lanarkshire.

How does it all work?

Each GP (appraisee) has been appointed an appraiser. Your appraiser will contact you during the course of the year to introduce himself to you, either by telephone, by letter, or by email. Following that he will contact you again to arrange for a date for your appraisal interview. Your appraisal paperwork should be with your appraiser ideally at least 4 weeks before your interview date. Your appraiser may contact you to discuss the material you have submitted.

Do all appraisers work in the same way?

All appraisers have been trained in the same way, but that does not mean we are all clones of each other. I prefer to contact my appraisees by email. I take about 90-120 minutes to complete an appraisal interview, but some of my colleagues take less time. I prefer to write my summary at home, but some appraisers write them up there and then. So the list goes on.

What happens after my appraisal?

GP Scot 4 goes to the Trust eventually for safe-keeping. It will virtually never be looked at again unless you are unfortunate enough to be subject to a GMC investigation. You are encouraged to send a copy of Scot 4 to Dr Gregor Smith, Clinical Director. Your appraiser will fill in your learning needs on-line, where NES collates all the information in order to build up a learning needs database for all Scottish GP's. Finally please remember to fill in Scot 5, your feedback form.

What if I am unhappy with my appraisal?

Your Lanarkshire Appraisal Adviser is Jill Murie (JillMurie@aol.com). She is your first point of contact. You may also contact Dr Gregor Smith at NHS Lanarkshire.

Where can I get electronic versions of the forms?

From http://www.scottishappraisal.scot.nhs.uk (latest 2008 version)

Good Luck