Breaks in service
A doctor has been working as a full-time GP in England for approximately five years and is shortly about to take 12-18 months' maternity leave. However, she is worried about the impact this will have on her revalidation, particularly because her name may lapse from the PCT's performers list during this time.
There will be many doctors in this situation. Taking maternity leave will not impact on her revalidation when she returns to work, even though she may miss an appraisal and CPD activity while away.
If she has no medical practice or CPD to draw on over a 12-18 month period, then the evidence from her previous appraisals should provide sufficient information on which a Responsible Officer can make a positive recommendation to revalidate to the GMC. Alternatively, the doctor's Responsible Officer may ask the GMC to defer revalidation for another year until the doctor has had an opportunity to accumulate more recent supporting information and have a further appraisal. In these circumstances, the doctor's licence to practise would simply continue during this interim period.