The second Dental Care Professional (DCP) Symposium in Edinburgh will take place on 20 April 2012 and is open to 180 delegates.

The first ever Symposium held by NHS Education for Scotland SE took place on 9 September 2011 at Boroughmuir Rugby Club in Edinburgh. Although NHS Education for Scotland (NES) had been providing continuing professional development (CPD) across Scotland for many years, it had encountered some barriers such as the cost implications for DCPs, the time required out of the workplace and the lack of knowledge among DCPs regarding participating and recording CPD in line with General Dental Council (GDC) registration.

The aim of the Symposium for DCPs was to cover a diverse range of topics, including core CPD topics, and provide six hours of verifiable CPD for 100 delegates.

The first Symposium was fully booked with a waiting list poised for any last minute cancellations. ‘There was a wide range of DCPs including hygienists, therapists, dental technicians, dental nurses and admin support from general practice, community and hospital services in the South East,’ said Sara Marwick, CPD Tutor and Dental Nurse Tutor SE at Edinburgh Postgraduate Dental Institute, who organises the symposiums.

Some of the speakers at the September event stayed on after their session to give extra support to delegates and all delegates were given the opportunity to evaluate the day.

‘I would love to attend more of these symposiums as I felt they were excellent in terms of value for money, relevance and quality. […] The speakers were knowledgeable and delivery was very entertaining,’ commented one delegate.

The second Symposium will be at a centrally located venue in Edinburgh.

Visit www.portal.scot.nhs.uk for more information and for other NES courses.