GDC launches review of CPD scheme

The General Dental Council (GDC) has launched a new review of its mandatory continuing professional development (CPD) scheme as it seeks to raise industry standards.

By conducting research and consulting with CPD providers and other stakeholders, the industry body is seeking to reassess the role played by CPD in helping registrants practise in accordance with GDC regulations.

It will be analysing the most effective forms of training provision and related monitoring and administration issues, while it also wishes to ensure that CPD requirements are incorporated into a proportionate scheme of revalidation.

A full public consultation on the matter will be launched in early 2012, but the organisation is already calling for dental professionals to submit comment.

Evlynne Gilvarry, chief executive and registrar of the GDC, said: "We are very keen to hear from registrants and other stakeholders about their CPD experiences and how the scheme might be improved."

Last week, the body revealed that it now has more than 100,000 dental professionals on its register for the first time in its history.