How many patient and colleague responses do you need for GMC MSF?

Does the GMC set a number?

No. The GMC requires doctors to collect patient and colleague feedback at least once in each five-year revalidation cycle, but it does not set a mandatory number of responses. Your responsible officer (RO), college or employer may have their own expectations, and your appraiser decides whether your evidence is acceptable. The first step is to ask what yours expects.

Our standard minimums

Our service uses 34 patient responses and 15 colleague responses as the standard for a round. These are our standard numbers, which you can change if your RO or organisation agrees a different figure.

You can invite more people than the minimum. Not everyone replies, so inviting about 24 colleagues is a sensible aim for 15 responses.

When a lower number is reasonable

Some doctors see fewer patients, or patients who cannot easily give feedback. Examples include:

• Doctors with little or no direct patient contact, such as radiologists and pathologists
• Doctors whose patients are asleep, unwell or unable to respond, such as anaesthetists and intensivists
• Locums with short placements or few patient contacts
• Doctors working in small teams, with few colleagues to ask

In these cases your RO or organisation may be happy with a lower number. If they are, you can ask us for a lower minimum.

How to ask for a lower minimum

• Open the Settings tab in your portal.
• Choose your speciality guidance, or type your own numbers (the lowest we accept is 5).
• Give a short reason, and say whether your RO or organisation has agreed. If agreement is not required, you can say so.
• You can upload their confirmation.
• Dr Tapase reviews the request and emails you with the decision.

If a lower minimum is agreed, your report states that a reduced minimum was used, so your appraiser can see it.

What to do before you start

• Ask your RO or appraiser whether they expect a particular number.
• Check your college guidance for your speciality.
• Request a lower minimum early, before you start collecting, so you do not collect more than you need.

Related guides

• MSF for locum doctors
• MSF for radiologists, pathologists and doctors with no patient contact