The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7230 p32
4 January 2003

Society summary

CPD roll-out extended to prereg tutors and to more pharmacists in north-west

As the next stage in the roll-out of its continuing professional development programme, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has now sent out CPD packs to all preregistration tutors and tutor managers and to pharmacists in seven more of the Society's branches in the north-west of England.

The CPD pack contains an 18-page guide entitled "Plan & record", plus an online user guide and a CD-ROM for those who intend to record their development electronically. Except for those sent to tutors and tutor managers in Wales, the packs also contain a Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education videotape entitled "CPD: your next move" and an invitation to take part in CPD workshops. Tutors and tutor managers in Wales will receive the CPPE video by alternative means when CPD is rolled out to all pharmacists in Wales.

The seven new branches included in the scheme are Bolton, Burnley, Bury and Rochdale, Macclesfield, South Cheshire, Warrington and Wigan. CPD packs have been sent to all pharmacists in these branches apart from those paying the reduced retention fee for pharmacists over 60 who are no longer working. Pharmacists in the Manchester, Salford and Trafford branch and the Stockport branch were sent CPD packs in October, as were senior staff at the Society, who are being encouraged to adopt the CPD framework in their own work (PJ, 26 October 2002, p626).

Pharmacists on the extended distribution list who have not received a CPD pack by 15 January are invited to contact the Society's education division (tel 020 7572 2540; e-mail cpd@rpsgb.org.uk).

Pharmacists who are not yet part of the roll-out can learn the basics of pharmacy CPD from the Society's 30-minute video, "Introducing CPD", which was sent in October to all members other than those who pay the over-60 reduced fee (PJ, 5 October 2002, p478). They can also download the "Plan & record" from the CPD section of the Society's website, along with several fact sheets answering frequently asked questions about CPD. Those without internet access can borrow the "Plan & record" from the Society's library.