Recertification in obstetrics and gynaecology: Principles, problems and prospects.

After many years of debate and controversy, a decisive step in the regulation of health professionals in the UK was taken when Trust, Assurance and Safety — The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Centurywas published in 2007. This white paper sets out new proposals to ensure that all statutorily regulated health professionals periodically revalidate their professional registration. Through this mechanism of revalidation, health professionals are to demonstrate their continued fitness to practise. Under the proposals, medical revalidation will have two components: relicensure and specialist recertification. For relicensure, all doctors will have a licence to practise that enables them to remain on the medical register, and this licence must be renewed every five years. This process will be managed by the General Medical Council (GMC). Recertification will apply to all specialist doctors, including general practitioners, requiring them to demonstrate that they meet the standards that apply to their particular medical specialty. These standards will be set and monitored by the Medical Royal Colleges and the specialist societies, and approved by the GMC. Recertification will take place every five years and, where possible, will coincide with relicensure. This paper sets out the approach of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to setting standards for the recertification of obstetricians and gynaecologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]