RCGP SCOTLAND TO LAUNCH NEW ACCREDITATION SCHEME FOR PROVIDERS OF EDUCATION - EPASS

By The College
Contact the author by e-mail at christopher.johnstone@ntlworld.com

The Royal College of General Practitioners (Scotland) (RCGP Scotland) announced plans today to introduce a new Educational Providers Accreditation Scheme (Scotland) (EPASS) from 1 April 2004. This follows agreement with NHS Education for Scotland and the Scottish General Practitioners Committee, for RCGP Scotland to take the lead in establishing a new scheme of accreditation.

EPASS replaces the Postgraduate Education Allowance (PGEA), which currently approves postgraduate educational activities in Scotland. PGEA will cease to exist following implementation of the new GMS contract from 1 April 2004. Demand for continuing professional development and quality assured training events will continue, however, particularly with GP appraisal and revalidation systems being rolled out across Scotland.

EPASS will accredit providers, rather than individual courses, and has been designed to grant educational accreditation to organisations who wish to gain recognition for their commitment to quality education. EPASS accredited providers will be able to advertise their events on a dedicated EPASS web site, which is currently being developed.

The system will benefit education providers, who will receive an EPASS logo for their events, while GPs will be able to choose high quality events that are relevant to their needs. The system will also benefit doctors who are looking to attend quality assured educational events in order to meet their own educational needs.

Dr Mairi Scott, Chair of RCGP Scotland, said, “General practitioners will want to know that any Continuing Professional Development activities they undertake will be relevant and will be provided in a way that is consistent with the principles of adult learning.”

She added, “GPs will be looking for educational activities that will support the requirements of Appraisal and Revalidation. EPASS will provide added guidance about the quality of those educational activities.”

Please contact RCGP Scotland, Education Department education@rcgp-scotland.org.uk for further details.

hoolet is the magazine of RCGP Scotland. It is supported intellectually, financially and emotionally by RCGP Scotland.

This issue maintained by Robert Hallam.