Practising as a doctor

Following my retirement from clinical work (see previous post), today I am relinquishing my licence to practice as a doctor. I can restore my licence on application and for the moment stay on the GMC register, whilst I decide whether I need to be on it.

When I first became a doctor, revalidation was unnecessary. Qualification was enough to make me fit to practice (although of course fitness-to-practice proceedings could always be instigated against me - and have been (see previous post)). Following the Shipman inquiry, revalidation was eventually introduced, and I have had to undertake annual appraisals. Giving up my licence means I am no longer subject to revalidation as I am not practising as a doctor.

I guess I have always primarily been a clinician rather than an academic. It's taken me a while to give up this privilege but I'm now looking forward to my retirement (including from my Cambridge PhD (see previous post), currently in intermission).