The end of October heralds the termination of the use of the NHS Toolkit for GP annual appraisals in Surrey.
From the 31st October, the old toolkit will no longer be free to GPs and Surrey PCT has chosen instead to use the new RCGP e-portfolio for appraisal purposes.
However, a gap in provision of a system to keep record of GPs continuing professional development arises because the RCGP is not expected to launch the new e-portfolio until the beginning of December. RCGP members will automatically be issued with access and a password to the e-portfolio once it is up and running and it will be free to non-members until 2012.
East Surrey GP Tutors are encouraging GPs not to panic, but discuss which tool to use for their appraisal, and the timing of their next appraisal (which may be best brought forward), with their appraiser. In the meantime it is essential that all GPs download all the information that is on their NHS Toolkit for their next appraisal, as all files will be deleted at the end of October.
