Directors of Continuing Professional Development

The Academy Directors of Continuing Professional Development Committee (DoCPD) objective is to advise doctors and other senior professionals allied to the Medical Royal Colleges, on the development and administration of their CPD.  The committee will also, in so far as it is possible, harmonise the administration of the quality assurance of such schemes.

DOCPD is Chaired by Dr Alistair Thomson, the Vice-Chair is Dr Ian Starke and the group consists of representatives from:

• Each of the Medical Royal Colleges and their Faculties including the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons in Ireland
• Royal Society of Medicine

The GMC review of continuing professional development (CPD)

The GMC has set out new proposals for how it will support doctors’ professional development, and what will be expected of doctors themselves.

Doctors have a duty to keep their knowledge and skills up-to-date and, for most doctors, this is an integral part of their professionalism and desire to provide better care for patients. However, with the introduction of revalidation from late 2012, all doctors will for the first time have to show they are up-to-date with their practice on a regular basis.

The consultation asks for feedback on what doctors and employers should be doing on CPD and how the GMC can support doctors in keeping up-to-date, as CPD will play an important role in doctors’ revalidation.

An expert working group has developed new draft guidance following a major review of the GMC’s role in CPD. As part of the review, over 1,900 doctors gave their views on CPD.  Seventy-eight percent said they were able to access appropriate learning and 81% had an opportunity to discuss CPD and personal development as part of the appraisal process.

The new guidance emphasises the importance of all doctors having these opportunities and provides a framework of principles around which doctors should plan, undertake and evaluate their CPD activity.

In the consultation, doctors and others are being asked for their opinions on a range of issues arising from the GMC’s role in regulating CPD. These include the responsibilities of employers and contractors in supporting doctors’ CPD activity, whether the new guidance places appropriate emphasis on doctors’ CPD being informed by the needs of patients and the public and the link between CPD and revalidation.

Niall Dickson, the Chief Executive of the GMC, said:

We hope that these consultations will shape the best possible systems to support every doctor’s professional development

The priority for us is making sure that our guidance on CPD and regulations on revalidation are flexible and straightforward enough to improve patient care and work well for every doctor."

The consultation closes on 27 January 2012 and the guidance will be available in spring 2012.