Dr Laura Mackenzie - New Bevan Commission Fellow
Bevan Fellows are health and care professionals who are passionate about leading change and transforming the way we work. The Fellow programme runs for two years and offers participants a chance to work on research, leadership development and education. Fellows conduct research related to their projects, build leadership skills to drive change, and engage in educational activities that support their work.
Laura is particularly interested in exploring how CPD (Continuing Professional Development) education can be used to directly improve patient care. Traditionally, GP CPD education focuses on improving the clinical knowledge of the participant. However, we do not know if this translates into improved services and care for patients. A fresh approach to CPD is being trialled by our Revalidation Support Unit. In this model, GPs and allied healthcare professionals from the same GP practice attend workshops together, with the aim of both expanding their knowledge and creating plans for making improvements to patient services at their practice.
Being a Bevan Fellow is a fantastic opportunity which will allow Laura to develop skills, connect with others, and learn from her peers. Laura also hopes that her work will bring value to HEIW by helping to explore and build evidence for this new approach to CPD education.
Dr Chris Price, Head of Revalidation Support Unit (RSU), said;
“I would like to congratulate Laura on becoming a Bevan Fellow and am excited by the work she will undertake for HEIW looking at the benefit to patient care of a new CPD initiative being trialled by the RSU. I hope this will lead to a proven benefit in delivery of care at a practice and patient level”.