What Happens During a Medical Appraisal Meeting?

A medical appraisal meeting is a professional discussion about your work, learning, reflections and development over the previous 12 months. It is not a viva and it is not an exam. There are no trick questions and there is no pass or fail mark. The purpose is to review your scope of work, discuss your supporting information, identify learning, and agree a personal development plan for the next year.

At the start of the meeting, the appraiser will usually introduce themselves, confirm your identity, and explain the structure of the discussion. If the appraisal is remote, you should expect to have your camera on and have photographic ID available. Most appraisals last around an hour, although some take longer depending on the complexity of the doctor’s scope of work and the amount of evidence to discuss.

The appraiser will normally begin by clarifying your scope of work. This means all the roles you have undertaken during the appraisal year. It may include substantive NHS work, locum work, bank work, private work, overseas work, teaching, management, research, medico-legal work, medical writing, observerships, career breaks, unemployment, sickness absence or other professional activity. If you have not worked clinically, the appraiser will want to understand the context rather than judge the absence of work.

The discussion will usually cover your appraisal and revalidation position. This may include your revalidation date, whether you have a designated body, whether you have a Responsible Officer, whether you are subject to an approved practice setting (APS), and whether this is your first appraisal in the current revalidation cycle.

The core of the meeting is the discussion of supporting information. The six usual categories are CPD, quality improvement activity, significant events, patient feedback, colleague feedback, and complaints and compliments. If you have strong evidence in a section, the appraiser will discuss what you learned and how it affected your practice. If evidence is missing, the appraiser should help you understand what may be required for the next appraisal or before revalidation.

The discussion is usually broader than the six evidence categories. A good appraisal also explores achievements, challenges, aspirations and wellbeing. This may include career planning, exam preparation, job applications, return to practice, support needs, portfolio careers, or plans for future UK work. For many IMGs, the appraisal may include discussion about NHS applications, clinical attachments, CREST forms, UK-style CPD, feedback requirements and how to evidence learning while overseas or between roles.

The meeting should feel like a professional conversation rather than an interrogation. You should be able to ask questions. Appraisal is most useful when the doctor is open about what has gone well and what has been difficult.

Towards the end of the meeting, the appraiser will usually summarise the main themes, agree a personal development plan and explain what happens next. After the meeting, the appraiser prepares an appraisal summary. This is an important document because it records the discussion, the supporting information reviewed, and any recommendations or actions. Depending on your revalidation route, it may be used to support future revalidation decisions.

Dr Appraisals provides independent medical appraisals for doctors with and without a designated body, including IMGs, locums, overseas-based doctors, doctors returning after a break and doctors with low levels of recent clinical work. The aim is to make the process clear, proportionate and useful.

Disclaimer

This article provides general information only and should not be treated as clinical, legal, regulatory, employment or professional advice.