He stressed that lay people would play a role in the revalidation process.

BBC: Patients' views sought on doctor tests

The GMC said there is also a new system of checks - known as revalidation - that began this month.

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Revalidation is one of a number of steps being taken by the GMC to restore both public and professional confidence in medical regulation.

BBC: Patients' views sought on doctor tests

It is paradoxical that the press calls for revalidation of doctors, who usually have had to complete at least 14 years of highly selective training and repeated, tough postgraduate exams, and yet allows health-service management to limp along undetected.

ECONOMIST: Letters

One theory is that with revalidation - dubbed the doctor MOTs - just round the corner, problems that have been glossed over for a number of years are now being dealt with by medical directors who have become more active in reporting issues to the GMC.

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