Registration of staff

Nurses and therapists

All nurses are registered with the NMC, and therapists with the HCPC or an alternative therapy council (such a FDAP, BABCP, UKCP or BACP) with a code of practice and a disciplinary process. The appraisal of nurses and therapists is carried out under the Priory appraisal system (Ways we Work).

Doctors' registration, revalidation and appraisal

All doctors are registered with the GMC and undergo yearly appraisal according to the GMC recommended procedures as part of their revalidation. The responsible officer for the company is Professor Christopher Thompson, who personally appraises all medical directors. In turn they are responsible for the appraisal, either directly or through delegated powers, of all consultants in their hospital. The appraisal requirements apply to both employed and independent consultants with practising privileges. Where a consultant also practices with an NHS Trust a joint appraisal is carried out, usually non-synchronously. Records of appraisals are held by the doctor and the hospital and the completeness of the hospital record is checked during Regulation 26 visits and during medical director appraisals.

Priory Group is recognised as an approved practice setting (APS) by the General Medical Council, meaning that it can train newly qualified doctors. All hospitals are staffed by resident junior doctors 24 hours a day. They are either employed by the company or by an independent provider of non-consultant (RMO) staff.

During the year (2008-9) there were no incidents of any Priory consultant, nurse or therapist receiving negative comment or sanction from their professional body.