The Committee requested the following information from the Royal College of General Practitioners:

(i) a note on how the Royal College of General Practitioners considers the voice of patients in developing its approaches to technologies and innovation, and how the College believes the voice of patients should be considered in the appraisal and commissioning process;

(ii) a note clarifying whether the use of medical technologies does or will form part of the revalidation process for GPs.

Dr Nazia Hussain, Royal College of General Practitioners, provided the following information in response to the Committee’s requests:

(i) The College consults with its Patient Partnership Group on all policy matters and most issues with regards to quality care provision. It does not seek wider patient consultation, but the Patient Partnership Group ensures that there is a patient focus in all deliberations;

(ii) There is no specific requirement for medical technologies to be included in the appraisal and revalidation process, but if a GP considers that to be a need for continuing professional development, then it can be included in the appraisal portfolio. For example, it might be specifically chosen or part of an audit or Quality Improvement topic, but that is the choice of the clinician.