Doctors to be re-assessed every five years "Revalidation is on its way," said Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC. Subject to the Secretary of State's decision to switch on the legislation, from the end of this year we will begin to tell each doctor the date when he or she will be expected to revalidate. He added: "We are confident that the health care systems across the UK will also be ready. Now is the time to get on with this. Reassessment was supported by Andy Burnham when he was the Labour health secretary. He pointed out that an airline pilot could face up to 100 assessments during a career while doctors could reach retirement without ever going through a similar process. There were delays to talks to introduce the process after the British Medical Association (BMA) raised concerns. Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary, was urged by patients" groups to press ahead. Prof Mike Pringle, president-elect of the Royal College of GPs, said that the new checks would benefit doctors. Writing in the medical newspaper Pulse, he said: "I believe it will restore public trust in doctors and that it is a necessary step to ensure all doctors remain up-to-date and fit to practise. Without revalidation, we will be mired in the spiral of mistrust that has already tainted our relationship with politicians, colleagues, NHS managers and, to an extent, our patients. The BMA said that it supported the principle of revalidation but that talks were continuing over some issues. It was concerned by plans to test the language competency of doctors in England only, warning that a postcode lottery of medical staff with inadequate English could develop as a result. But a spokesman said: "We support the principle of revalidation. Patients can be reassured that doctors are starting a streamlined process of revalidation.