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. 1999 Jul 3;319(7201):53. doi: 10.1136/bmj.319.7201.53

Proposed appraisal system and political correctness

Consultant appraisals will be useful

Andrew Whitehouse 1
PMCID: PMC1116151  PMID: 10390468

Editor—Kerr’s negative attitude to the idea of consultant appraisals1 reminded me of that of surgeons in the 19th century, who were said to sharpen their scalpels on their boots to show their contempt for the microbe theory. He also shows a common misunderstanding of the difference between appraisal and assessment. Appraisal is for the benefit of the one being appraised—akin to formative assessment in educational jargon.

Speaking for myself, I look forward to my first appraisal. If it provides the opportunity to draw the trust’s attention to the ever rising pressures on us and the resulting threats to safe patient care then this much political correctness I will happily accept.

References

BMJ. 1999 Jul 3;319(7201):53.

Correspondent rather than the royal college may have lost touch with reality

K G M M Alberti 1, John R Bennett 1

Editor—We thank Kerr for his suggestion that the Royal College of Physicians may be suffering from political correctness and is disconnected from the real world.1-1 It may be, however, that Kerr rather than the royal college has lost touch with reality if he has not noted the almost daily accounts in the media of doctors, some of them physicians, who have failed to achieve appropriate standards. This is why government and the profession are seeking ways to ensure continuing competence.

No medical or clinical director should have been appointed without having had proper training in appraisal, and the directors will themselves be subject to appraisal by trust managers. Appraisals are already routine in universities and many other professions, being an ideal vehicle for both career development and detecting problems early. Appraisals themselves will not affect the care of patients, but physicians whose weaknesses or gaps in knowledge are pointed out early, or who are able to discuss constructively their difficulties, are more likely to maintain high standards than are those who remain unaware of or hide such problems.

The college’s document recognises the resource consequences of the several elements of clinical governance,1-2 and it regularly points this out to the government. If the public truly wants assurance of continuing high standards of medical care it must pay for it.

References

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