Example of an unplanned CPD entry

Describe an unplanned event or activity that enabled you to learn something new or refresh your knowledge or skills:

While reading this month’s Pharmacy Magazine I came across a CPD module about responding to sore throat as part of the Pharmacy First service. I decided to make this part of my preparation for providing the service. Although I felt my knowledge about sore throat and when to refer was OK,
it was useful to refresh my thinking.

One thing I was a bit nervous about was examining a patient’s throat, as this isn’t something I have done before. So while completing the module I watched the two short videos on examining the throat and then looked at the CPPE clinical examination and procedural skills assessment and decided to use it to make sure all the relevant areas were covered in my plan. The document included making notes about three throat examinations and was useful when I was practising them.

Give an example of how this learning benefited the people using your services

The new service benefits patients because they can see me more quickly than they could get an appointment at the GP practice. The practice team benefit because I can deal with more cases of sore throat and some of these would otherwise have resulted in a GP visit. The wider community will benefit through my rational use of antibiotics and this should help to reduce their use.