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Reminder - Upload CPD credits 2014 - 2015 - Statement of Participation
As we approach the end of the fourth year of the Professional Competence Scheme, we wish to remind you that you are required to record and upload certificates / proof of attendance for activities which you have participated in since May 2014.

As we approach the end of the fourth year of the Professional Competence Scheme, we wish to remind you that you are required to record and upload certificates / proof of attendance for activities which you have participated in since May 2014.

The Statement of Participation for this year will be generated in May 2015 and will reflect what you have recorded on your Portfolio. This Statement of Participation is the document that you will need to submit to the Medical Council if selected for their audit. The Medical Council will require those who are re-registering to declare that they are in compliance with their requirements for maintaining competence.

Maintenance of Professional Competence is a flexible, self-directed and practice based process for which you are responsible. We would encourage you to record your CPD activity and if you have any difficulty with this, please do not hesitate to contact pcs@rcsi.ie / 01 402 2743 in order that we can assist you with this.

 
Renew Your PCS Enrolment for 2014 - 2015
Many of you will have renewed your enrolment for 2014 – 2015.  For those of you who have still to renew your enrolment, it is really important that you do so before April 30th.

Many of you will have renewed your enrolment for 2014 – 2015.  For those of you who have still to renew your enrolment, it is really important that you do so before April 30th.

If you do not register before then it will not be possible to register retrospectively and it will be impossible to produce an official statement of participation for 2014-2015.

Re-enrol by paying your fee on-line using your credit card click https://pcs.rcsi.ie

 
SurgiQuiz Now Available for Android
SurgiQuiz is now available to download for Android as well as iPhone and iPad.

SurgiQuiz is now available to download for Android as well as iPhone and iPad. SurgiQuiz is a surgery & anatomy quiz game, where you can earn CPD credits & post your score on global and local leader boards.

To download this app on iPhone or iPad click here

To download this app on Android click here.

 
Retiree Issues
RCSI has recently updated the website with information for Retired Doctors.
RCSI has recently updated the website with relevant information for Retired Doctors.  In this section practitioners will see some suggestions as to how they can accumulate CPD credits.  There is also a list of External CPD events held on a yearly basis.   Click here for further details.

A representative group of doctors no longer in clinical practice from each of the Postgraduate Training Bodies met with the Irish Medical Council on 27th November 2014 to discuss items such as Registration with Medical Council and PCS Scheme Requirements. Professor Ray Fitzgerald and Mr Peter Naughton represented RCSI.  The following matters were discussed:
  • Each training body agreed to develop a set of guidelines specifically for retired doctors and place this on their website.  You can access the RCSI guidelines here
  • It was agreed that the separation of registration from licence to practice would help retired doctors who wish to remain on the register but do not have any clinical (or other practice).  However, this will require legislative change and the Department of Health do not currently propose to bring forward any amendments to the legislation.  However, it was agreed that each postgraduate training body would write to the Minister advocating for an appropriate change to the Medical Practitioners Act.
  • It was noted that many doctors who have retired from clinical practice continue to engage in other forms of practice including teaching, examining, medico-legal work etc..  It was agreed that, in these cases, those doctors need to keep up to date in areas relevant to their scope of practice only.
  • Similarly, those who have no clinical practice, are not required to conduct a clinical  audit.  Instead, they could conduct an audit relevant to their scope of practice.  RCSI has provided examples that might be useful for those in medico-legal practice and the professional competence office can offer advice to other doctors who find it difficult to meet this requirement.
  • Regular meetings of this group were scheduled.
 
National Office of Clinical Audit Update
Over the last eighteen months, NOCA have achieved real progress in the areas of Major Trauma Audit (MTA) and the Irish Hip Fracture Database (IHFD), both of which are now well established in the collection and monitoring of data from trauma receiving hospitals nationwide.

NOCA is currently responsible for the operational deployment, management and national governance of:

  • Comparative Audit of Hospital Mortality (CAHM)– currently being deployed nationally
  • Major Trauma Audit (MTA)
  • Irish Hip Fracture Database (IHFD)
  • National ICU Audit
  • Irish National Orthopaedic Register (INOR)
  • Irish Audit of Surgical Mortality (IASM) - Health Information Bill dependent
Click here for further information

Date for the Diary:   NOCA Conference - 18th May 2015

Location:    RSCI, 123 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2

This is an Inaugural NOCA event and it is anticipated this will become an annual event.   The purpose is to raise awareness to both clinicians and the public alike of the value of continual clinical audit.  Further details will be available on the NOCA website.




 
Health Technology Assessments
HIQA have recently published four HTA's on surgical procedures or surgical surgical conditions.

HIQA have recently published four HTA's on surgical procedures or surgical conditions.  These include

Lower Gastrointestinal symptoms suspected of indicating malignancy

Upper Gastrointestinal symptoms suspected of indicating malignancy

Groin (inguinal or femoral) hernia

Gallstone disease

Haemorrhoid procedures


You should familiarise yourself with HIQA's recommendations in these areas.




 
Calendar of Events
For details on Events approved for External CPD credits by RCSI, click on Calendar of Events.
For details on Events approved for External CPD credits by RCSI, click on Calendar of Events.
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