The Medical Council has said it understands difficulties may
arise for doctors in fulfilling continuous professional development (CPD)
requirements as a result of Covid-19.
The regulator stated this morning: “The Medical Council, in
its role in supporting doctors, understands the significant workload faced by
doctors and the potential travel disruptions, arising due to Covid-19, and
appreciates that some doctors may choose not to attend European and
International medical education related conferences or have difficulty in
recording their CPD.”
If, as a result of this, a doctor will not meet CPD
requirements, they are asked to do the following:
- Advise their professional competence scheme
- When completing the annual retention application
form (ARAF), tick ‘No’ they are not compliant.
By doing both, the doctor’s circumstances will be taken into
consideration in the compliance monitoring process. If the doctor’s compliance
with the requirements has been consistent in the past, this deviation “should
not cause any concern”.
Speaking today, President of the Council, Dr Rita Doyle,
acknowledged the growing concerns in regard to Covid-19 in Ireland.
“The Medical Council
is monitoring the situation relating to Covid-19 very carefully, especially in
light of our role in protecting patients and supporting doctors.”
“Doctors and healthcare workers are the frontline in the
battle to minimise the impact of Covid-19 in Ireland. I want to remind doctors
that they have an ethical duty, according to the Guide to Professional Conduct
and Ethics, to selfcare in order to protect themselves, their colleagues and
their patients.”
“Please ensure that personal protective equipment is worn
correctly and that notices are placed at the entrances of clinics and practices
informing patients to return home and call their GP or the HSE if they are
displaying any symptoms of COVID-19 or respiratory illness”.
“To patients and the wider public, I am asking you to follow
the guidance from the HSE and public health doctors. Your first port of call
for any concerns should be the HSE website which is updated regularly. Most
cases of Covid-19 will be mild and you will be able to care for yourself at
home.
“If displaying any symptoms do not attempt to attend your
GP, out of hours service or an emergency department. Please call your local GP
or contact the HSE website for guidance.
“A community response is needed to slow down the spread of
COVID-19 and everyone has a role in that, from individuals following personal
hygiene guidance to businesses, shops, bars and restaurants having signage up
reminding people to wash their hands and to provide hand sanitizer or
sufficient hand washing facilities.”
“I want to acknowledge and praise the leadership shown by
the Department of Health and the HSE in response to Covid-19 but I particularly
want to thank our public health doctors, other doctors and healthcare workers
on the front line around the country,” concluded Dr Doyle.
According to the Council, it is working closely with the
Department of Health and the HSE on a number of matters and continues to
monitor the developing situation.
Members of the wider public are reminded to:
- Wash your hands properly and often.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or
your sleeve when you cough and sneeze.
- Put used tissues into a bin and wash your
hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched
objects and surfaces.
- Avoid close contact with people who are not
well.
- Follow the travel advice from the Department
of Foreign Affairs.
- Visit www.hse.ie for latest guidance and
advice.
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