The end of the PCS year is fast approaching and you must meet and record all CPD activity for the 2019-2020 year before the end of April 2020. A number of doctors have been in contact with the Medical Council regarding potential conflicts arising between restrictions due to COVID-19 and meeting CPD requirements.

Where doctors are advised or choose not to travel to European meetings (or those meetings are cancelled) because of infection control precautions, you might choose instead to attend events in Ireland. While comprehensive specialist and sub-specialist events may only be available internationally, it is possible to identify courses on general professional skills such as communications, audit, clinical pathways, prescribing, and aspects of professionalism available in Ireland. Courses that have been approved for CPD in Ireland are available to view on the RCSI PCS website Calendar of Activities; courses approved for CPD by other training bodies are also recognised by RCSI.

It remains possible that further restriction on events and travel may be imposed in Ireland in the near future. In that case, it may be possible to identify online courses that may be appropriate for your CPD purposes.  If however you are unable to meet your CPD requirements due to restrictions arising from the COVID-19, can you please complete this declaration FORM

Should you be unable to meet the mandatory annual CPD requirements (for any reason), then you must tick “No” when completing the Medical Council’s Annual Retention Application Form (ARAF).

Those who are absent from practice for a period of three months or more for specific prescribed reasons should complete a declaration to this effect –  please click HERE for this declaration.  Further information is available here - FAQ Absence from Practice

RCSI is obliged to identify to the Medical Council all doctors who are enrolled on PCS who do not meet the mandatory minimum requirements based on a review of the eportfolio. We will contact all doctors affected directly to allow remediation where possible. 

A Letter and Infographic received from the Medical Council explaining the position is attached as follows:  Letter & Infographic

Should you have any queries, please contact Marie O'Boyle at the PCS Office :  01 402 2743 or by email:  pcs@rcsi.ie

Yours sincerely

 

 

Professor Sean Tierney BSc MCh FRCSI

Dean Professional Development/Practice