BMA Learning to run revalidation toolkit

BMJ Learning has announced that it is developing an online revalidation toolkit to help doctors meet the future demands of appraisal and revalidation.

The online learning service, part of the BMJ Group, said the toolkit would be free to BMA members with an annual subscription for non-BMA members. It should be available in the first quarter of 2011.

Two months ago, the Department of Health announced that GPs and other users would have to pay to access its NHS Appraisal Toolkit website from the end of October. The DH said that in line with other areas of policy, appraisal arrangements should now be made locally in the NHS.

BMJ Learning said its toolkit would record all activity on its own service seamlessly and there will also be a one click recording from all other BMJ Group products.

It said the system will allow doctors to log other professional development activities by uploading relevant documents and adding free text entries.

A tagging system will enable doctors to ‘mark up’ learning activities for particular purposes. The toolkit could also be used as a personal development plan to map out significant future events and career goals against a curriculum or calendar.

Dr Kieran Walsh, editor of BMJ Learning, said: “We are confident that this toolkit will help doctors’ progress through appraisal and revalidation as smoothly and efficiently as possible.”

Tony Bourne, chief executive of the BMA, said: “We are delighted to partner with the BMJ Group on this initiative and offer the toolkit as an additional membership benefit.”

A timetable for the introduction of revalidation is due to be published by the General Medical Council on 18 October.