Changes to NIHR CRN Introduction to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Training Delivery
- 17 April 2023
- 2 min read
The CRN Coordinating Centre has recently advised that from the end of May 2023, the face-to-face Introduction to GCP will be retired from use. Staff will continue to be able to carry out the certificated GCP eLearning via NIHR LEARN.
In addition to this, a non-certificated optional course is in development. This focusses on the practical application of GCP and will be delivered by trained regional GCP facilitators. The new package will provide staff with the opportunity to carry out activity-led training to complement Introduction to GCP eLearning. This will be offered as a short virtual and/or face-to-face course (approx. 3.5 hours). It will not be mandatory for staff to take this to be considered as fully GCP trained.
There are no changes to GCP refresher delivery.
CRN Wessex will be in touch to find out your organisational interest in this course via a feedback form at the end of June 2023.
Why has this happened?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, staff working in research were required to carry out their GCP training via the eLearning package on NIHR LEARN as face-to-face training was not available. Over 90.1% staff carried out this training via the NIHR eLearning package; during this time, there were no major concerns raised in relation to GCP adherence or knowledge. As a result, it was decided that the ongoing mandatory training for staff working in research could be met from GCP eLearning.
In addition to this, with the impending E6 R3 changes, it was felt that to ensure all staff can receive prompt updates of their training, it would be best practice to centralise this to one resource.
What does my organisation need to do?
If your organisation has a GCP facilitator within it, they will have received a communication from the CRN Wessex GCP Leads to let them know of the changes. This means that from the end of May 2023 no further face to face introduction courses can take place and CRN Wessex will no longer be able to log these via the NIHR system to provide certification.
If your organisational SOPs mandate that face-to-face GCP training is required, either as part of an induction or for existing staff, these should be updated to reflect the eLearning requirement only.
What do I need to do?
There is no immediate action needed for staff. Once the new optional complementary GCP training is available, this will be communicated via Wessex News, added to NIHR LEARN and updated on the CRN Wessex training page here.
In addition, once the ICH have released the new E6 R3 changes, further guidance will be given on when the GCP eLearning will be updated and released.
Queries/questions
Please contact the CRN Wessex training team on train.crnwessex@nihr.ac.uk if you have any questions or queries in relation to this.
