John Launer: Learning from appraisals

I’ve been a GP appraiser for around 20 years, more or less since appraisals were introduced. I’ve appraised colleagues across the professional spectrum, from those in serious trouble with the General Medical Council to deans of medical schools who happened to be GPs. I’ve also had many appraisals myself. Some of these have been inspiring and influential on my career, while others have been humdrum and disappointing.Over the years I’ve followed heated debates about the value of appraisal. As everyone points out, appraisals combine supporting colleagues with checking safety for the public and taking organisational needs into account. Although this can be a challenge, it’s not so different from the balancing act that every medical educator or manager does all the time. On the whole, I’ve become less interested in arguing about the pros and cons of appraisal and more inclined to concentrate on how to make it worthwhile.Two recent…
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