CPD online reporting tool
1 July 2014
One of the requirements of Good Medical Practice is that doctors keep their knowledge and skills up to date. The GMC document Supporting information for appraisal and revalidation states that CPD should:
- Be relevant to the whole scope of the doctor’s practice
- Stimulate the doctor to reflect on whether he / she is working to the relevant standards
- Meet the doctor’s perceived learning needs, but also the needs of their patients, colleagues and employer
- Be linked to clinical governance processes, individual, organisational and national audit
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges’ CPD guidance framework for appraisers and appraises explores these principles in more detail and considers special circumstances such as CPD for doctors in isolated practice or doctors who are returning to practice following a career break.
It is not a requirement for ophthalmologists to be registered with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ for CPD, but the College provides an electronic CPD diary and supports and signposts a wide variety of resources relevant to the continuing professional development of ophthalmologists.
There are also a number of sub-specialty societies which provide and promote resources for CPD in these fields of ophthalmology.
Ophthalmic medical practitioners undertake NHS sight testing in community optometric practice and may also fit contact lenses. The College of Optometrists accredits a range of educational resources which are relevant to this area of practice.