Consultant assessment and appraisal: an outline in practice.

AIMS: To demonstrate a practical method to address new Department of Health requirements for assessment and appraisal. METHOD: This process was developed within the department to incorporate workload, clinical incidents and 360 degrees questionnaires to assess performance and working with departmental staff as preliminaries to an appraisal interview. CONCLUSION: Review of 2 years' process has resulted in minor amendments but there was general agreement that the parameters encompassed were practical and useful.