GMC Annual Return for Doctors Without a Designated Body

If you are a doctor with a GMC licence to practise but do not have a prescribed connection to a designated body and therefore do not have a Responsible Officer or Suitable Person, you will be asked by the GMC to complete an annual return.

This is a common situation for doctors who are working overseas, between NHS roles, doing occasional locum work, returning to practice, working in non-standard roles, or currently not working clinically, possibly due to sickness, carer responsibilities or taking a career break.

The GMC annual return can feel confusing, particularly if you have not worked for the full year or you are unsure what evidence is expected. This guide explains what the annual return is, what questions are usually asked, what forms or evidence may be needed, and what to do if you have had a gap in practice.

DrAppraisals.com is an independent appraisal provider. Our role is to help doctors prepare for and complete medical appraisals and revalidation.

What is the GMC annual return?

The GMC annual return is a process for doctors who do not have a connection to a Responsible Officer or Suitable Person.

Doctors with a designated body usually have their appraisal and revalidation information reviewed through their Responsible Officer. Doctors without a connection do not have this route, so they provide information directly to the GMC, via a GMC-compliant independent medical appraiser.

The GMC explains that doctors without a connection are asked to submit an annual return once a year through GMC Online. The GMC usually gives at least three months’ notice before the return is due.

The annual return is not the same as your appraisal. You will need an appraisal in order to complete your annual return.

Most doctors will have their independent medical appraisal first before then submitting the GMC’s annual return form, however sometimes doctors do not realise they need to have an appraisal at the point they submit their annual return. In this case, the appraisal can occur soon after the annual return submission, and the GMC will continue to prompt you until this has been done. They will not process your annual return without completion of a suitable GMC compliant independent appraisal and the REV12 form.

Who needs to complete a GMC annual return?

You will need to complete a GMC annual return if you:

• have a GMC licence to practise

• do not have a prescribed connection to a designated body

• wish to maintain your licence to practise

This may apply to doctors who are:

• working overseas

• seeking their first UK post

• between jobs

• working for organisations that are not designated bodies

• doing occasional or ad hoc locum work

• not currently working e.g. sick leave, carer responsibilities

• returning to practice after a break

• working in private, charitable, academic, non-clinical or portfolio roles

If you are unsure whether you have a prescribed connection, you should check using the GMC’s connection tool or ask the organisation you work for whether they are your designated body.

What questions are asked in the GMC annual return?

The annual return is usually submitted online via the GMC portal, though there is a paper or electronic version of the form called the REV10 form.

The following information is uaully required:

1. Personal and contact details

You will first need to confirm basic demographic details such as:

• name

• GMC number

• date of birth

• contact details

• current registration and licence status

2. Employment and practice history

You will be asked to account for your work and practice history over the previous 12 months.

This may include:

• clinical roles

• non-clinical medical roles

• voluntary work

• academic or teaching roles

• management or leadership roles

• private work

• overseas work

• locum work

• breaks in practice

• periods of unemployment

• parental leave, sickness absence, study leave or career breaks

The GMC expects doctors to account for the full period. If you have not been in work for part or all of the year then you must state this, and explain any mitigating circumstances that apply e.g. sickness, career break.

For each role, you will need to provide:

• organisation or employer name

• country or location

• job title

• specialty or area of work

• start and end dates

• whether you had direct patient contact

• whether you were working in a medical capacity

• whether the work required a licence to practise

3. Medical services provided

The annual return will ask whether you have provided medical services during the last 12 months.

If you have, the GMC may ask for additional evidence, such as a Medical Services Statement (REV11 form) from each organisation where you provided medical services.

This can apply to UK and overseas work.

A medical services statement from an employer essentially acts as a statement of good standing from an organisation where you have provided medical services.

It is usually completed by the organisation, employer or service provider. It helps confirm whether there are any known concerns about your practice during the relevant period.

You may be asked for a medical services statement if you have provided medical services in the last 12 months, including overseas.

Examples may include work in:

·         hospitals

·         clinics

·         general practice

·         private practice

·         telemedicine

·         medico-legal services

·         occupational health

·         teaching, research or medical management roles, where these involved medical services

If you have worked for more than one organisation, the GMC may require a medical services statement from each relevant organisation.

If you have not provided medical services during the last 12 months, you should state this clearly. In that situation, a medical services statement will not be applicable, but you must still complete the annual return if the GMC has asked you to do so.

4. Overseas registration or licensing

If you have worked or held medical registration outside the UK, you will need to provide details of that registration.

This can include:

• country

• medical regulator

• registration or licence number

• dates of registration

• whether the licence is current or historic

The GMC will ask for a Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) from overseas regulators. This will be required even if you were registered overseas but did not actually practise there. Depending on the country the GMC may contact the equivalent overseas regulator directly themselves. Otherwise, you will need to contact your overseas licensure and ask them to produce a CGS which you can then send to the GMC.

5. Fitness to practise declaration

You will be asked to declare whether there are any fitness to practise matters that the GMC should know about, including overseas.

This may include:

• complaints

• significant events

• employer investigations

• conditions or restrictions on licence

• regulatory proceedings

• criminality

If there is anything to declare, you should provide clear and accurate details, including dates, outcomes and any current status.

6. Annual appraisal details

The GMC will ask whether you have completed a GMC-compliant independent appraisal. You will need to provide:

• the appraisal date

• the appraiser’s name

• the appraiser’s GMC number

• the appraisal output or appraiser report form

For doctors without a connection, your appraiser will complete the REV12 form.

If you have not completed an appraisal, you will normally need to explain why. If an appraisal is already booked, you may be asked to provide the planned date and appraiser details.

7. Supporting information for appraisal and revalidation

The annual return will usually ask about the standard supporting information required for revalidation.

This includes:

• continuing professional development

• quality improvement activity

• significant events

• patient feedback

• colleague feedback

• complaints and compliments

You do not usually need to send every piece of supporting evidence to the GMC unless they ask for it. However, your appraisal should show that you have collected, reflected on and discussed relevant supporting information.

If you have not been able to collect a certain type of evidence, you should explain why.

What evidence or forms might be needed?

The evidence required depends on your circumstances. Common documents include:

• GMC Online annual return

• REV10 form, if the GMC asks for a paper annual return

• completed appraisal form

• appraiser report form, often REV12 for doctors without a connection

• evidence of annual appraisal

• employment or practice history

• Medical Services Statements, if requested

• Certificates of Good Standing or Past Good Standing, if requested

• evidence of overseas registration or licensing

• translated copies of non-English documents

• explanation of any gaps in work or practice

You should only submit the information requested by the GMC. Do not send large bundles of appraisal evidence unless specifically asked.

What happens if I have not worked for the whole year?

Not working for the whole year does not automatically mean you cannot complete an annual return.

Many doctors have may have mitigating circumstances to explain their gaps in practice. These may include:

• visa delays

• maternity, paternity or adoption leave

• sickness absence

• caring responsibilities

• study leave

• career break

• relocation

• working in a non-medical role

• waiting for NHS employment

• working overseas intermittently

• preparing for exams or applications

The key point is that the full 12-month period should be accounted for.

If you have not worked clinically, you should say so clearly. You should explain why and state what you have done during that time to remain engaged with your professional development.

The following closing section is based on the annual return process and requirements described in your article.

Summary

Doctors who hold a GMC licence to practise but do not have a prescribed connection to a designated body will usually be required to complete a GMC annual return. This applies even if you are working overseas, between jobs, undertaking only occasional medical work or have not worked clinically during the year.

The annual return requires you to account for the previous 12 months, including any clinical work, non-clinical roles, overseas practice and periods when you were not working. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need Medical Services Statements, Certificates of Good Standing and details of any overseas medical registration.

Your annual return is separate from your annual appraisal. Doctors without a prescribed connection will normally need to complete an appropriate independent medical appraisal and provide the accompanying REV12 appraiser report form. Any gaps in practice or missing supporting information should be explained clearly and honestly.

Not having worked for some or all of the year does not automatically prevent you from completing an appraisal or annual return. However, you should account for the full year and demonstrate how you have remained professionally engaged where possible, including through continuing professional development and preparation for returning to practice.

How DrAppraisals.com can help

DrAppraisals.com provides independent medical appraisals for doctors who do not have access to appraisal through a designated body. We regularly support doctors who are:

• working outside the UK

• seeking their first NHS role

• between medical posts

• undertaking occasional or fragmented locum work

• returning after a career break or illness

• currently unable to secure clinical employment

• working in private, academic, charitable or non-standard medical roles

Our appraisers can review your full scope of work, supporting information, professional development and any gaps in practice. We can also help you understand what information should be discussed at appraisal and identify any remaining requirements before your revalidation date.

Following your appraisal, the appraiser can complete the relevant appraisal documentation, including the REV12 form where applicable, for submission as part of the GMC annual return process.

We also offer pre-appraisal advice for doctors who are uncertain about their eligibility, evidence or individual circumstances, as well as formal patient and colleague feedback services where these are required for revalidation.

If the GMC has asked you to complete an annual return, it is advisable to arrange your appraisal early rather than waiting until the submission deadline. This provides time to address any missing evidence, obtain relevant statements and complete the required documentation.

Disclaimer

This article provides general information only and should not be treated as legal, regulatory, employment or professional advice. Individual circumstances differ, and GMC requirements and guidance may change. Doctors should refer to current GMC guidance and seek case-specific advice from their Responsible Officer, Suitable Person or the GMC.