UK Medical Appraisals
Independent, GMC-Compliant Medical Appraisals for UK and International Doctors
Fast, supportive, and fully accredited — with no hidden fees. Providing free support and REV12 completion, if you don't have a Designated Body.
Appraisal Fees from £350
In addition to their appraisal, I provide Junior Resident Doctors, from the UK and outside the UK,
with all of following FREE of charge, as a standard part of their appraisals:
Appraisal preparation guidance
Advice on how to secure a FREE Clinical Attachment
Job application advice, including what to write in a personal statement
NHS interview skills / common questions
MSRA / SJT tips and tricks
CV advice
1. What can I expect from a Medical Appraisal with UKMA?
You will receive expert guidance and support with your Appraisal preparation.
Your appraisal will be a formal, but relaxed, friendly and supportive meeting, with one of the most experienced Medical Appraisers in the UK. It will be via video link and will last about 1 hour.
Your appraiser will create an environment in which you will feel able to ask questions about the appraisal process and about any concerns you have.
During the meeting, your Appraiser will facilitate discussions and your reflections on the supporting evidence you have provided for your Appraisal. These discussions and reflections will be used to formulate your Personal Development Plan for the subsequent 12 months [your Appraiser will guide you on this].
Following your Appraisal, your Appraiser will complete [finalise] the Appraisal form and complete all sections of the REV12 form. They will then email these completed documents to you, during the 48 hours following your Appraisal.
You then upload these to your online GMC account. Within 14 days, the GMC will then email your Appraiser, to ask them to confirm that they met with you for your Appraisal and that they completed the Appraisal forms. Your Appraiser will confirm this within a few hours and your Appraisal process will then be complete.
Contact UKMA for more information
Your appraisal will be a formal, but relaxed, friendly and supportive meeting, with one of the most experienced Medical Appraisers in the UK. It will be via video link and will last about 1 hour.
Your appraiser will create an environment in which you will feel able to ask questions about the appraisal process and about any concerns you have.
During the meeting, your Appraiser will facilitate discussions and your reflections on the supporting evidence you have provided for your Appraisal. These discussions and reflections will be used to formulate your Personal Development Plan for the subsequent 12 months [your Appraiser will guide you on this].
Following your Appraisal, your Appraiser will complete [finalise] the Appraisal form and complete all sections of the REV12 form. They will then email these completed documents to you, during the 48 hours following your Appraisal.
You then upload these to your online GMC account. Within 14 days, the GMC will then email your Appraiser, to ask them to confirm that they met with you for your Appraisal and that they completed the Appraisal forms. Your Appraiser will confirm this within a few hours and your Appraisal process will then be complete.
Contact UKMA for more information
2. What is Revalidation?
Revalidation is the date that your GMC licence to practise renews. It occurs once every 5 years and it is generally set 5 years after: a] you first registered with the GMC, or b] you completed FY1 training, or c] you completed specialist training.
Contact UKMA for more information
Contact UKMA for more information
3. What is a Medical Appraisal?
UKMA provides the annual process of facilitated self-review, supported by information gathered from the full scope of your work. Your scope of practice is defined by all the types of Medical work you do, inside and or outside of the UK. Looking back over a 5 year Revalidation Cycle, the supporting information should have been gathered predominantly from UK practice. However, for any given 1 year appraisal period, this is not necessary.
There are 6 types of supporting information that are provided for appraisals and that should cover your scope[s] of practice.
1. Continuing professional development (CPD / CME) [try to aim for 50 hours each year - this can include UK-based and non-UK based activities]. The number of hours maybe less than 50, particularly if this is your first appraisal.
There are 6 types of supporting information that are provided for appraisals and that should cover your scope[s] of practice.
1. Continuing professional development (CPD / CME) [try to aim for 50 hours each year - this can include UK-based and non-UK based activities]. The number of hours maybe less than 50, particularly if this is your first appraisal.
2. Any Quality improvement activity [such as audit, case-based discussions, service improvement activities]. UKMA will provide you with templates for these.
3. Any Significant Events that you and or your team were involved in [A Significant Event is an event that did lead, or could have led, to harm].
4, Feedback from patients or those to whom you provide medical services. This needs to be collected at least once within each Revalidation Cycle, but it is not necessary to provide this for each appraisal].
5. Feedback from colleagues [Reference letters / letters of recommendation for each appraisal. These should cover each of your UK and any non-UK scope[s] of practice. Formal multi-source feedback from colleagues needs to be collected at least once within each Revalidation Cycle, but it is not necessary to provide this for each appraisal.
6. Any Compliments and complaints that you and or your team were involved in.
Contact UKMA for more information
Contact UKMA for more information
4. What is an Annual Return?
An Annual Return is the process by which doctors, who do not have a Designated Body, make a direct submission to the GMC. It comprises an Annual Appraisal [with an Appraisal form + a REV 12 form, completed by your Appraiser] + completion of certain documents on your GMC platform account, such as the REV11 form.
Please note, NHS England has discontinued the use of the MAG4 appraisal form, and it should no longer be used for appraisals. UKMA will provide you with an alternative, that is fully compliant with updated NHS England and GMC requirements.
Contact UKMA for more information
Please note, NHS England has discontinued the use of the MAG4 appraisal form, and it should no longer be used for appraisals. UKMA will provide you with an alternative, that is fully compliant with updated NHS England and GMC requirements.
Contact UKMA for more information
5. Does UKMA facilitate Appraisals for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) ?
The answer is yes, of course. We recognise the huge contribution that IMGs make to UK Medical Practice.
There are five common scenarios in which IMGs have an appraisal with the UK Medical Appraisals:
1. The IMG is working in paid clinical practice, both within the UK and outside of the UK
2. The IMG is working in paid clinical practice, outside of the UK, whilst they are actively applying for paid clinical work and or a Clinical Attachment / Observership, in the UK
3. The IMG is working in paid clinical practice, within the UK
4. The IMG is undertaking, or has recently undertaken, a Clinical Attachment / Observership in the UK, but is not in paid clinical work. However, they are actively applying for paid clinical work in the UK
5. The IMG has been on a career break / maternity leave and is actively applying for paid clinical work and or a Clinical Attachment / Observership, in the UK
Contact UKMA for more information
There are five common scenarios in which IMGs have an appraisal with the UK Medical Appraisals:
1. The IMG is working in paid clinical practice, both within the UK and outside of the UK
2. The IMG is working in paid clinical practice, outside of the UK, whilst they are actively applying for paid clinical work and or a Clinical Attachment / Observership, in the UK
3. The IMG is working in paid clinical practice, within the UK
4. The IMG is undertaking, or has recently undertaken, a Clinical Attachment / Observership in the UK, but is not in paid clinical work. However, they are actively applying for paid clinical work in the UK
5. The IMG has been on a career break / maternity leave and is actively applying for paid clinical work and or a Clinical Attachment / Observership, in the UK
Contact UKMA for more information
6. What Other Resources Does UKMA provide?
A certified course on Quality Improvement Activities for Doctors [3 CPD points] - free for all Doctors having an appraisal with UKMA
A comprehensive CPD Directory - free for all Doctors having an appraisal with UKMA
A Clinical Attachment Guide for IMGs, which includes a list of hospitals that provide Clinical Attachments - free for all Doctors having an appraisal with UKMA
A State of the Art Case Based Discussion Template - free for all Doctors having an appraisal with UKMA
A State of the Art Reference letter Template - free for all Doctors having an appraisal with UKMA
Contact UKMA for more information
A comprehensive CPD Directory - free for all Doctors having an appraisal with UKMA
A Clinical Attachment Guide for IMGs, which includes a list of hospitals that provide Clinical Attachments - free for all Doctors having an appraisal with UKMA
A State of the Art Case Based Discussion Template - free for all Doctors having an appraisal with UKMA
A State of the Art Reference letter Template - free for all Doctors having an appraisal with UKMA
Contact UKMA for more information
►Hot Topic of the Week
Monday 4th May 2026
Monday 4th May 2026
How Much Can Doctors Earn in the UK? NHS vs Private Practice (2026 Guide)
Introduction
For many doctors considering working in the UK, one of the most important questions is straightforward: how much can you realistically earn?
The answer depends on several factors, including experience, specialty, and whether you work within the NHS, undertake locum work, or develop a private practice.
This article provides a clear and realistic overview of earning potential across different stages of a medical career in the UK.
NHS Salary Structure
Most doctors begin their UK careers within the National Health Service, where salaries are structured and nationally standardised.
Typical salary ranges are as follows:
Foundation Year 1: approximately £32,000
Foundation Year 2: approximately £37,000
Specialty Trainee (ST1–ST8): approximately £43,000 to £63,000
Consultant: approximately £93,000 to £126,000
In addition to base salary, doctors may receive supplementary income through night shifts, weekend work, and on-call commitments.
The NHS provides stability, predictable progression, and access to a pension scheme. However, it is not typically where the highest levels of income are achieved.
Agency Locum Work
Agency Locum work offers significantly higher short-term earning potential, particularly in specialties with workforce shortages.
Typical hourly rates include:
Junior doctors: £40 to £70 per hour
Registrars: £60 to £100 per hour
Consultants: £90 to £150 or more per hour
Doctors working full-time as locums may earn between £80,000 and £150,000 or more per year.
However, these higher earnings come with trade-offs, including reduced job security, lack of pension contributions, and variability in workload.
Private Practice
Private practice is where earning potential can increase substantially, but this is usually only accessible at consultant level.
Doctors may work with organisations such as Bupa, Spire Healthcare, and Nuffield Health.
Typical additional private income includes:
Part-time private work: £20,000 to £100,000 per year
Established consultants: £100,000 to £300,000 or more
Earnings in private practice depend heavily on reputation, referral networks, geographic location, and specialty demand. High-demand specialties such as orthopaedics, dermatology, and ophthalmology tend to generate higher income.
Combining NHS and Private Work
Many consultants in the UK adopt a mixed model, combining an NHS role with private practice.
This approach offers both financial stability and increased earning potential. Total annual income in this model commonly ranges from £120,000 to £300,000 or more, depending on individual circumstances.
What International Medical Graduates Should Expect
For International Medical Graduates, it is important to understand that high earnings are not immediate.
The typical pathway involves:
Entering the NHS in a junior or middle-grade role
Building UK clinical experience
Progressing to registrar or consultant level
Gradually accessing private practice opportunities
The UK should therefore be viewed as a long-term career pathway rather than a route to immediate high income.
Factors That Influence Earnings
Several key factors determine how much a doctor earns in the UK:
Specialty and subspecialisation
Level of experience and seniority
Geographic location
Access to private practice opportunities
Personal work-life balance preferences
Regardless of income level or career pathway, all doctors practising in the UK must engage in annual appraisal and ongoing revalidation.
This process is overseen by the General Medical Council and is essential for maintaining a licence to practise.
In practical terms, a doctor’s ability to sustain and increase their earnings is directly linked to maintaining continuous professional compliance.
Conclusion
The UK offers a structured and potentially rewarding medical career, with income increasing progressively over time.
The NHS provides stability and career progression, locum work offers flexibility and higher short-term earnings, and private practice allows for substantial income growth at senior levels.
For most doctors, the highest earning potential is achieved through a strategic combination of these pathways.
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