Independent Medical Appraisal: What Is Included in the Fee and Which Package Should I Choose?

Traditionally, a lot of appraisal providers provide extortionate rates to doctors for something that they have to undergo as part of GMC requirements. Here at Dr Appraisals, we buck that trend and offer the most affordable independent medical appraisal service in the UK.

Choosing an independent medical appraisal provider is not only about price. Doctors should understand what is included in the fee, how quickly the appraisal can be arranged, and what the expected turnaround times are for completing necessary appraisal paperwork.

At Dr Appraisals we provide GMC-compliant medical appraisals for doctors who require an independent appraisal. This includes doctors both with and without a designated body, doctors working overseas, locum doctors, IMGs, doctors returning to practice as well as employed doctors working privately or within the NHS.

What is included in the appraisal fee?

The appraisal fee includes the full start-to-end appraisal process, not only the meeting itself.

This usually includes:

• review of your pre-appraisal documentation and supporting evidence

  • NB: we offer a pre-appraisal advice service if you would like one-to-one advice and feedback on your current portfolio and supporting evidence.

• the appraisal meeting with an experienced medical appraiser

• discussion of your scope of work, CPD, quality improvement activity, feedback, complaints and compliments, significant events, wellbeing and PDP

• additional advice on career decisions and job applications (if relevant)

• guidance on appraisal and revalidation requirements

• completion of the appraisal summary and REV12 form, where required

• post-appraisal administration and finalisation of the appraisal output

• responding to GMC confirming appraisal details (this tends to happen a few weeks after the appraisal meeting)

Why do appraisal fees vary?

Many appraisal providers charge upwards of £700, and some will charge additional monthly subscription fees as well.

Our standard appraisal package is just £349, with no additional or hidden fees. We can offer this because we are a very small team, offering virtual appraisals only with no physical office and low overheads. Paying more for something does not mean you get a better service. We are proud of our 100+ five star reviews on Google, Trust Pilot and Facebook.

We offer several different appraisal packages depending on your needs, giving you greater flexibility and autonomy in choosing the right appraisal service for you.

Our appraisal fees are dependent on the urgency of your appraisal, and therefore the speed and availability we offer as our guaranteed turnaround times.

Standard medical appraisal

It is the most appropriate option if there is no rush to undertake and complete your appraisal.

A standard appraisal meeting can be booked from 14 days after purchase. Meetings are available during standard working hours, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays. All paperwork is completed and returned within 14 days of the meeting.

This option is usually suitable if:

• your appraisal / annual return deadline is not imminent

• you want the cheapest appraisal in the UK that we know of!!!

• you can meet during standard working hours

Fast-track medical appraisal

The fast-track appraisal is suitable for doctors who need their appraisal completed more urgently.

This package allows an appraisal to be scheduled in as little as 72 hours from booking and is guaranteed within 7 days of purchase.

The appraisal write-up, including the REV12 form where required, is completed within 72 hours of the meeting (and usually within 24 hours)

We therefore guarantee that your appraisal meeting and paperwork has been completed within 10 days of purchase, at the very longest.

Fast-track appointments offer extended meeting hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 10pm, and Saturday, 9am to 12pm, excluding bank holidays.

This option may be appropriate if:

• your appraisal deadline is approaching

• you need greater flexibility of extended appraisal meeting hours

• your Responsible Officer or designated body have requested urgent completion

• your employer or locum agency have paused your work until you have completed an appraisal

Urgent / Same-day medical appraisal

The same-day appraisal is intended for doctors who require our urgent support within a very short timeframe.

Your appraisal gets prioritised to the front of the queue.

This package allows an appraisal to be scheduled within hours of purchase and we will always guarantee to offer an appraisal meeting within 24 hours or at the most convenient time for you.

If your appraisal / annual return deadline is less than 7-10 days away then we highly recommend getting our Urgent / Same-Day appraisal to ensure you do not miss your deadline, and risk the GMC revoking your licence to practise.

The appraisal write-up and REV12 form, where required, can be completed in as little as 2 hours after the meeting.

Same-day appointments are available out of hours, at weekends and on bank holidays. This option may also be useful for doctors in different time zones.

This option is usually appropriate if:

• your appraisal is urgent and you need a guarantee of less than 7-10 days turn around

• you need the greatest flexibility for scheduling your appraisal meeting

• your Responsible Officer or designated body have requested urgent completion

• your employer or locum agency have paused your work until you have completed an appraisal

Complex Appraisal Add-On

Some appraisals require additional time, care and preparation because there are regulatory, employment, legal or fitness to practise issues that need to be considered as part of the appraisal discussion.

Our Complex Appraisal Add-On should be purchased alongside your appraisal package if any of the following apply:

• current or previous General Medical Council investigation or MPTS hearing• current or previous licence conditions, including suspension• current or previous investigation, hearing, or licence to practise issue with another medical regulator outside the UK• current or previous employment investigation, suspension, tribunal hearing or malpractice process• criminal activity that could have, or has had, an impact on your fitness to practise

The add-on allows the appraiser to spend additional time reviewing the relevant background, understanding the current position, and ensuring the appraisal discussion and summary are accurately recorded.

For doctors with any of the above circumstances, the appraisal may still be able to proceed, but it needs to be approached carefully and transparently. The appraiser may will listen to your account of what happened, whether matters are ongoing or concluded, what reflections and learning have taken place, and whether any restrictions, investigations or declarations need to be recorded in the appraisal output.

Please ensure this Add-On is purchase alongside whichever appraisal package you purchase.

If you do not appropriately purchase this option, we will retrospectively charge the Add-On fee if it transpires at the appraisal meeting, that this service should have been purchased.

Which package should I choose?

Choose the standard appraisal if you have at least four weeks before you need the meeting and you do not require urgent completion.

Choose the fast-track appraisal if you need the appraisal arranged within 7-10 days.

Choose the urgent appraisal if your appraisal need to be guaranteed to be completed ASAP.

Don’t forget the complex appraisal add-on where relevant!

Summary

An independent medical appraisal fee covers more than the meeting. It includes preparation, document review, the appraisal discussion, completion of the appraisal output, REV12 completion where required, and post-appraisal administration.

52% of our doctors choose the standard appraisal, whilst 34% opt for the fast-track package, leaving 14% requiring the urgent appraisal. 5% of our doctors require the comlex appraisal add-on.

DrAppraisals.com provides independent GMC-compliant medical appraisals for doctors in the UK and overseas, including doctors without a designated body, IMGs, locum doctors and doctors returning to practice.