How important is it to you that your health care professional undertakes continuing professional development?

Question

In the UK the majority of health care professionals (including Drs, nurses, physiotherapists, paramedics) now have to show that they continue to update their skills and knowledge on a regular basis. It's not just enough for them to go on courses they have to reflect on what they have learned and show what impact this learning has had on their professional practise. Often they have to do this in addition to their full-time jobs. Do you think this is fair or should they be allowed time to develop their knowledge and skills during their working day?

Answer 1

I'm interested in the question and how you worded it as i suspect you have some insider knowledge. The CPD is a good idea but some of the barriers to it being effective are lack of funding to pay for external training courses (staff regularly pay themselves and do them in their own time) confused systems for monitoring competence (currently 3 bodies) over dependence on drug companies to pay for training, excessive bureaucracy in the CPD process and wide regional variations in the support for training. The reflective learning idea containes a major flaw- you could be refelecting on absolute rubbish but don't realise it. Yes there's a huge issue of being allowed time at work to do it but unless there is pressure put on NHS empoyers to prvide time and resources made available the current muddle will continue. Professional bodies and unions have been very weak on this issue

Answer 2

continueing education for health care professionals is critical. Healthcare professionals are professional because they are so dedicated to their jobs that they take the need for continued education as an unquestioned and unquestionable. The majority of healthcare professionals I know consider it a matter of pride that they do their continueing education. Continueing education is a paid benefit for some employed providers, others pay for this out of pocket. In either case, the process involves time away from the demands of practice. This offers the opportunity for reflection, as well as a break in daily routine, which enhances the mental health of the provider. If there is a problem with continueing education, it is the cost. This cost becomes an expense for the practitioner, which is then passed through to the patient. True professionals continue to develope their knowledge and skills on a daily basis. I golf with a doctor who tells me that he learns something new almost every day. He goes away for education for two weeks a year, and always comes home with new ideas, and always in a better mood... He never complains about the process. In short, from what I can see, the process is fair.

Answer 3

Not only is it fair, but how else does a Carer/Health Professional get experience ??? They DO develop their skills and knowledge during working hours !!! That's the whole point !!! When they reflect their learnt skills/knowledge on a regular basis, that's when Care Standards Inspections KNOW that this person has taken the knowledge/skill on board. Does that make sense ???

Answer 4

I think it is very important that any professional should continue to update their skills. To enable them to keep up with new developments.

However, I think it is totally unfair to expect them to do this in their own time. This type of activity should be something that a person should do within their working day.

For example what about parents who pay for childcare whilst they are at work. Are they supposed to pay for care whilst they do training as well?

If you are working full time then it is hard to balance your free time anyway without using some of that time for training on courses.

Answer 5

I agree also its way OTT and i just wish they would leave the professionals to get on with their jobs its correct they keep up with all the new methods and equipment but you will develop as you progress with each day as we all did// the system is suppressing people and doing nothing for personal initiative

Answer 6

I think that kind of malarkey is what is wrecking this country and we'd all be better off if they left these people alone to do their jobs. All this stuff does my head in. Keeping abreast of new developments is important but all this reflecting on it and all that is such an awful load of b*llocks!! We have to do it at university and it makes me so sick