Cut-off date for the use of the old CPD ePortfolio – 31 August 2021
In consideration of the difficulties that Fellows, Members and Associates have been experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic and with most appraisals being delayed by approximately 6 months, the College has decided to continue to make the old CPD ePortfolio available until 31 August 2021. This will allow doctors to use their old ePortfolio until appraisal. After 31 August 2021, you will no longer be able to use your old CPD ePortfolio, but this will be available in read-only form until 31 December 2021.
In the meantime, the suppliers of the old CPD ePortfolio will be developing a new and easy way of electronically downloading doctors’ old CPD data for safe keeping. We will keep you up to date with this development.
Please contact the CPD team if you have any enquiries regarding this or regarding the use of the new CPD ePortfolio (tel: 020 7772 6307 or email: cpd@rcog.org.uk). The team can provide a telephone demonstration on the use of the new CPD ePortfolio with some practical examples relating to your individual needs.
CPD and COVID-19
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of educational meetings and courses may be cancelled. While this will reduce your access to some educational resources, the 2019 RCOG CPD Framework includes a variety of alternative activities, such as eLearning, TOG questions and experiential learning (e.g. learning from discussions with peers, learning from cases, self-directed personal learning prompted by clinical experiences and reading).
If you are still following the previous CPD programme, we would also encourage you to use these alternative methods of learning.
The College recommends that Fellows, Members and Associates participate in the RCOG CPD programme at the rate of 50 CPD credits per year. However, in terms of appraisal and revalidation, the GMC’s CPD guidance does not set a requirement of a specific number of credits per year. Therefore, especially in view of the current circumstances, your appraiser may be willing to sign off your CPD even if you have not achieved the College’s credit recommendations. Please see the GMC CPD guidance: https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/cpd-guidance-for-all-doctors-0316_pdf-56438625.pdf
We strongly advise that you discuss your learning objectives with your appraiser in advance of appraisal. The College also urges appraisers to apply flexibility in terms of CPD recommendations during this difficult period.
We recommend that doctors working in healthcare settings outside the UK where formal appraisal is not routine should discuss their learning objectives in informal meetings between colleagues.
The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (TOG)
Our publishing partner, Wiley, has advised us that due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, they have ceased all print and distribution services until further notice. This is because of the impact of lockdown policies and travel restrictions on supply chains, workflow and global air freight capacity.
This means that, unfortunately, you will not be receiving your usual print copy of TOG in July. All of the usual high-quality content, plus additional online-only content such as infographics and videos, will be available on the TOG app and TOG online, and we will alert you when the July issue is available.
To achieve CPD credits via the questions provided in TOG as part of the College’s CPD programme, please access the journal by signing into the College website and navigating to the ‘My Benefits’ section of your account.