Which group of Doctor do you belong to?

The Different Types of Doctors We Appraise at Dr Appraisals

At DrAppraisals.com, we appraise doctors from many different backgrounds and career stages. Although the appraisal framework is the same, the circumstances behind each doctor’s appraisal can be very different.

Some doctors are new to UK registration and trying to secure their first NHS job. Others are working abroad but want to keep their GMC licence to practise active. You may be in the UK but do not have a designated body. Or perhaps you are taking time away from work, returning after a break, or working in roles that no longer involve direct patient care. Perhaps you are registered without a licence to practise applying to regain your licence?

A good medical appraisal should reflect the doctor’s work (or unemployment) status, detailing the scope of work, their current position, and guide them in terms of the type of supporting information they can realistically provide.

In this blog article I discuss the most common situation that doctors find themselves in when requiring a medical appraisal.

Do you fit in to any of the below?

1. IMGs with a new licence to practise who have not worked in the last 12 months

This is a common group for us.

International medical graduates (IMGs) account for 70% of the appraisals we undertake. In many cases, they have spent the last year applying for posts, preparing for interviews, arranging relocation, or trying to gain some form of UK experience. Often this will be there first appraisal experience, and so it’s really important that we make the doctor feel at ease. We understand that a lot of doctors are nervous before their first appraisal and that’s why we spend the first minute reassuring them that the appraisal is just a structed chat with no right or wrong answers – it’s lovely to see them soon relax.

Because they are not currently working in clinical practice, the supporting information they can provide is often limited. They may not have access to the usual evidence that a doctor in employment might collect, such as audit work, patient feedback, colleague feedback, or significant event reflection.

For this group, CPD is often the main focus of the appraisal. It is usually the most realistic form of supporting information available while they are out of practice. That might include online learning, UK guidance, safeguarding updates, life support training, webinars, and reflective learning about the NHS and UK practice.

We often talk through what evidence is sensible to gather over the coming year, and how the doctor can stay professionally engaged while applying for work.

2. IMGs with a new licence to practise who are working outside the UK

We also appraise many doctors who are working overseas while holding a UK licence to practise and seeking UK employment.

These doctors are often in active practice abroad, sometimes in hospital posts, general practice, private healthcare, academic roles, or a mixture of settings. Many are planning to apply for UK jobs in the near future. Others want to keep their licence in place while they consider a move later on.

In these cases, the appraisal usually focuses on the doctor’s current role, their scope of practice, and the supporting information they have been able to gather in their own healthcare system.

Some doctors can provide a good range of evidence, such as CPD, case discussions, quality improvement work, incident reflection, or feedback. Others have much less formal documentation, especially where local systems do not mirror UK appraisal structures.

Part of the appraisal is therefore to look at that information in context and help the doctor understand what will be useful as they move closer to UK practice.

3. Doctors working in the UK who do not have a designated body

Not all doctors working in the UK will have a designated body, and this is another group we regularly support.

These doctors may be working in areas such as:

• private practice

• aesthetic medicine

• occupational health

• telemedicine or digital health

• medico-legal work

• independent healthcare

• charity or humanitarian work

• portfolio or locum roles without a clear prescribed connection

• advisory or corporate medical roles

• medical referrers

• college examiners

• those retired but still requiring a licence to practise

Many of these doctors may be doing regular medical work but they do not sit within a standard NHS appraisal system. They require an independent or private appraisal.

Some have several roles at once. Some work across different organisations. Some are in sectors where formal appraisal arrangements are limited or absent altogether.

In these situations, an independent medical appraisal helps make sure they remain engaged with appraisal and revalidation in a proper and structured way.

4. Doctors who are not currently working because of sabbatical, sickness, parental leave or caring responsibilities

We also work with doctors who are temporarily away from practice.

There are many reasons for this. Some are on sabbatical. Some are off work because of illness or burnout. Some are on parental leave. Others are caring for family members, relocating, or taking time to think about their next step.

These appraisals can be especially important. Even when a doctor is not currently practising, they may still need to stay on top of appraisal requirements and think ahead to revalidation or return to work.

In these cases, the discussion is often more about context and planning. We look at the reasons for time away, what professional engagement has been possible during that period, and what a realistic return to practice might look like. Supporting information may be more limited, but the appraisal can still be useful in helping the doctor stay connected to the process.

For many doctors in this group, CPD is again a key part of what they are able to present.

We also take time to check on a doctors’ wellbeing, which can be particularly pertinent for doctors in these categories.

5. Doctors who are registered without a licence to practise and now want to return

Dr Appraisals also supports doctors who remain GMC registered but no longer hold a licence to practise.

This may be because they allowed appraisal to lapse, gave up their licence voluntarily, moved away from clinical practice for a period, or spent time abroad.

Now they may be ready to return and reapply for their licence to practise.

Often these doctors are looking at:

• restoring their licence to practise

• preparing for UK job applications

• returning after a career break

• rebuilding their portfolio and confidence

We look at what evidence they can begin collecting now, how to show continued professional development, and how to explain periods out of practice clearly and honestly.

6. Doctors with a designated body organisation whom outsource their appraisal service to Dr Appraisals

DrAppraisals.com works with many designated body organisations whom choose to use us as their preferred appraisal provider.

In these cases, the doctor does have a responsible officer already, but the organisation has decided to outsource its medical appraisals.

This is often helpful for smaller organisations, independent providers, or specialist services that want a reliable external process. It can also offer consistency and access to experienced appraisers who understand a wide range of doctors’ backgrounds.

For the doctor, it still means a proper appraisal process that supports revalidation and reflects their day-to-day work.

7. Doctors with a designated body, but whose organisation will not arrange their appraisal

Although many doctors assume that having a designated body automatically means their organisation will appraise them, that is not always the case. We also support doctors who are formally connected to a designated body, but for practical or professional reasons their organisation does not arrange the appraisal itself, or the doctor needs to seek an external option.

This can happen for several reasons, for example:

• the doctor has not undertaken enough work for that designated body for them to offer an appraisal

• the doctor wants an independent appraiser who is more neutral and separate from their employer

• the organisation does not have the capacity to provide an appraisal in a timely way

• there has been a breakdown in the relationship with the internal appraisal system

• the doctor’s circumstances are unusual and an external appraiser is felt to be more appropriate

• the designated body’s revalidation or appraisal team is not responding

In these cases, the doctor may still need to inform their responsible officer or organisation that they wish to have an independent appraisal arranged elsewhere. Often this is acceptable, provided the appraisal is carried out properly and all GMC requirements are met.

8. Doctors with a more complex appraisal

Some doctors come to appraisal with more complicated circumstances.

This might include:

• employer investigations

• regulatory concerns

• GMC conditions on licence to practise

• a long absence from work

• health-related issues affecting work

• difficult career transitions

These appraisals need to be handled carefully and objectively. The purpose is not to repeat any investigation, but to reflect the doctor’s circumstances properly, acknowledge any relevant issues, and document learning, progress and current position where appropriate.

A more complex appraisal often needs more context and more careful reflection. We take time to truly understand the circumstances and what you have been through. The wellbeing of these doctors is particularly important.

9. Doctors who no longer see patients but still need a licence to practise

We also appraise doctors who no longer work directly with patients but still need a licence to practise for their role.

Examples include doctors working in:

• medical leadership and management

• educational roles e.g. college or medical school

• pharmaceutical medicine

• clinical research

• digital health

• medico-legal work

• examiner roles

• occupational health leadership

• advisory or regulatory roles

These doctors may not be seeing patients in the traditional sense, but their appraisal still needs to reflect the work they actually do.

Their supporting information may look different from that of a frontline clinician. It may include teaching, governance work, leadership activity, policy work, research, quality improvement, expert reports, or wider system responsibilities.

The important thing is that the appraisal reflects the doctor’s real role rather than trying to force it into the wrong template.

Why this matters

One of the most important things about medical appraisal is that it has to be proportionate.

A doctor applying for their first UK job will not have the same portfolio as a doctor in long-term NHS practice. A doctor working overseas will not always have the same systems available as a doctor in England. A doctor in a leadership role may have very different supporting information from a doctor in direct clinical care.

The standards of professionalism remain the same, but the evidence and discussion need to match the doctor’s real circumstances.

That is why a thoughtful, individual approach matters.

How Dr Appraisals helps

At DrAppraisals.com, we support doctors with a wide range of appraisal and revalidation needs, including:

• international medical graduates

• doctors without a designated body

• doctors with a designated body

• doctors working overseas

• doctors returning after time out

• doctors with complex appraisal circumstances

• doctors in non-patient-facing roles

We understand that medical appraisal is not one-size-fits-all. A good appraisal should make sense for the doctor’s actual background, current work and future plans.

Looking for an independent medical appraisal?

If you are looking for an independent medical appraisal, support with doctor appraisal, or help staying on track with GMC revalidation, DrAppraisals.com supports doctors in the UK and internationally.

Whether you are an IMG preparing for your first UK job, a doctor without a designated body, returning after a break, or working in a non-traditional medical role, your appraisal should reflect your real professional circumstances and help you plan the next year clearly.

Get in contact today: info@DrAppraisals.com