Sir Donald Irvine said every effort was being made to weed out bad doctors

GMC president Sir Donald Irvine told the BBC: "Our system would build on the arrangements which employers are putting into place so that there are regular checks throughout a doctor's life at their place of work."

He stressed that lay people would play a role in the revalidation process.

The NHS Confederation which represents health authorities and health boards said it welcomed the proposals but called for health authorities and Trusts to be given a role in assessment of doctors.

"It is essential that NHS organisations are properly represented on the group making these five-year assessments for revalidation."

Revalidation is one of a number of steps being taken by the GMC to restore both public and professional confidence in medical regulation.

But doctors are expected to severely criticise the GMC at their annual meeting next week, saying they have lost confidence in its ability to regulate the medical profession.

The GMC has come in for sustained criticism over the past year following a number of high profile cases.

These include Harold Shipman's conviction for murder, the Bristol heart scandal and, most recently, the case of disgraced gynaecologist Rodney Ledward who was found guilty of botching operations on scores of women over many years.