Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is something that all Medical, Nursing and Scientific BBTS members will need all their working lives. Learning new skills and techniques and keeping up to date are nothing new. CPD schemes provide a mechanism for valuing, recording and reflecting on such activity, usually in the form of a learning portfolio.

CPD schemes are run by a number of professional groups such as the Royal College of Pathologists, the Institute of Biomedical Science and the British Society of Histocompatability and Immunogenetics. While some members of BBTS have participated in all these schemes they each have some disadvantages for those that work in Transfusion Medicine / Science. Some are only open to certain groups of staff (RCPathol.) or only to members of the society (BSHI), while others are not specific to transfusion (IBMS).

For these reasons and because CPD is a requirement of continued registration for both medical, nursing and scientific staff , the BBTS now offers a CPD scheme in Transfusion to all members. The scheme has been running since April 2001, and registration for the scheme is obtained through the BBTS office in Manchester.

How does the scheme work?
The BBTS scheme is similar to other existing schemes in that it is based on reflective learning in a variety of activities (meetings, courses, writing, etc.). Following registration through the Manchester Office, registrants will be sent a BBTS ring binder containing the portfolio information and documentation. This includes a detailed explanation of how the scheme works, as well as forms for recording accredited activity in three areas (Education, Vocational and Professional). At the end of each year an activities summary form is sent to BBTS and a formal record of activity is therefore maintained by the individual, who keeps his/her own portfolio.

Every year a small sample of portfolios will be checked as an audit of how the scheme is working.