Recommendation BRIS-82: Make Continuing Professional Development (CPD) compulsory for all healthcare professionals
From Bristol Heart Inquiry — Final Report, published 18 July 2001.
Recommendation
CPD, being fundamental to the quality of care provided to patients, should be compulsory for all healthcare professionals.
Government response
No government response to this recommendation is on the record yet.
Delivery
DHSC and NHS England say partially delivered (27 February 2026)
Please see Recommendation 46 (Professional standards)
Most healthcare regulators set out the standards that all their registrants must meet in completing their Continuing Professional Development. For example:
• the GMC sets out the CPD requirements for revalidation for all registered doctors. Doctors must complete revalidation every 5 years, which includes providing evidence that CPD has been completed.
• The NMC sets out CPD requirements for nurses, requiring 35 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to your scope of practice in the three year period since registration was last renewed (or since joining the register)
Site note: DHSC and NHS England's own account of progress, supplied to the Thirlwall Inquiry in September 2024 and printed in the Inquiry legal team's Review of Implementation of Recommendations from Previous Inquiries into Healthcare Issues (version dated April 2025, published 27 February 2026). It is not a finding of the Inquiry. Their reviewed extent of implementation reads “Partially Implemented –Ongoing”. Table row: section 6.2 No. 82, PDF page 108.
What other bodies have found
In their own words. These do not change the delivery statement above.
Thirlwall Inquiry legal team (15 May 2024)
The Government agreed with this recommendation.
In its January 2002 response, the Department of Health said it was already part of the duty of healthcare professionals to maintain their knowledge and skills and keep up to date, this forming part of the appraisal and revalidation process.
Site note: The Thirlwall Inquiry legal team's own notes on implementation, from its Review of Implementation of Recommendations from Previous Inquiries into Healthcare Issues (version of 15 May 2024). The review does not colour its Extent of Implementation cell for this recommendation green; it leaves the cell uncoloured where a recommendation was rejected, where evidence of implementation was insufficient, or where steps had been taken but implementation was not yet complete. Table row: section 6.2 No. 82, PDF page 98-99.
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- DHSC and NHS England
Delivery statement - Thirlwall Inquiry legal team
Finding