The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7280 p841
20/27 December 2003

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  Modernisation
  MHRA leaflet
  Aqueous cream
  CPD
  Ramipril
  Community pharmacy
  Fellowships
  Top-up fees
  Product names

Letters to the Editor

CPD

Need an incentive to take part in CPD

From Dr M. P. Short, MRPharmS

As a semi-retired, former proprietor of a busy pharmacy now contemplating changing to the “part-time” retention fee, I have decided against doing continuing professional development. I do feel some sadness with this decision but like many in their late 50s, with years of unrecorded experience, I have the opinion that CPD in the format dictated is for the new generation of pharmacists.

That was until I recently discussed the issue with my next door neighbour, the local veterinary surgeon, who at my age is really excited about CPD. Why? Because he is off to Orlando in January to complete, in one week, his annual CPD.

I am concerned that CPD in its present format will result in a much more serious shortfall of working pharmacists than the fallow year inflicted on the profession by short-sighted academics. The difficulty in finding suitable locums for a busy dispensary to allow the proprietor time off is still fresh in my mind.

It would be in everybody’s interest, perhaps by sponsorship in part from industry, to provide some incentive for us with more time on our hands to take part in CPD in the same way that is available to vets, dentists and doctors. This would in part way alleviate the forthcoming shortfall and particularly help those independent pharmacies who seem to rely on the older experienced locums, partly by choice and partly because the multiples mop up the more recently qualified and more mobile locums.

M. P. Short
Fareham, Hampshire

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