How CPD Enhances Communication Skills in Healthcare

This informal CPD article ‘How CPD Enhances Communication Skills in Healthcare’ was provided by Dr Jon Turvey, CEO & Founder of SimFlow.ai, an organisation providing remote AI-powered simulations for communication skills training. They seek to improve care whether that is on a medical ward, simulation suite or school classroom.

Why CPD in Communication Skills Matters for Healthcare Professionals

In healthcare, communication is not just a “soft skill”—it is a clinical necessity. Every day, healthcare professionals engage in conversations that directly affect patient safety, trust, and outcomes. From explaining a diagnosis to coordinating treatment across multidisciplinary teams, effective communication is central to quality care.

Yet, despite its importance, poor communication remains one of the most common causes of patient complaints, errors, and litigation. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in communication skills ensures that healthcare staff continually refine their ability to listen, explain, and collaborate effectively throughout their careers.

Research has consistently shown that failures in communication are a major cause of patient safety incidents (6). This article explores why communication failures are so costly, how CPD training can reduce risks, and the role of innovative approaches in making training more effective and accessible.

The Scale of the Problem

The NHS receives thousands of written complaints every year, with a large proportion linked to communication breakdowns (7). Common issues include patients feeling ignored, receiving unclear explanations, or experiencing a lack of empathy.

Recent studies highlight how ineffective communication causes needless distress and harm for patients and families, often escalating situations unnecessarily (8). These problems extend beyond patient interactions—miscommunication between professionals can delay treatment, compromise safety, and strain working relationships.

Why Healthcare Communication is So Complex

Healthcare communication presents unique challenges that make CPD essential:

  • High-stakes conversations: breaking bad news, discussing consent, or managing end-of-life care.
  • Time pressures: heavy caseloads and staff shortages reduce the time available for quality communication.
  • Team dynamics: hierarchical structures may discourage junior staff from speaking up.
  • Cultural and language barriers: diverse patient populations can complicate understanding.

Surveys show that many NHS staff report hesitancy in speaking up due to workplace hierarchy or culture, leading to missed opportunities to prevent harm (4).

These factors highlight why structured, ongoing CPD is required to help healthcare workers navigate difficult conversations effectively.

cpd-SimFlow.ai-ongoing-CPD-help-healthcare-workers
Ongoing CPD to help healthcare workers

The Cost of Poor Communication

Communication failures are not just a patient safety issue—they also have financial and workforce consequences:

  • Litigation: Miscommunication is a significant factor in negligence claims, costing health systems globally billions (1).
  • System inefficiencies: Misunderstandings create duplication, delays, and avoidable errors.
  • Workforce wellbeing: Poor communication contributes to stress, burnout, and staff turnover.

In the United States, communication-related breakdowns are estimated to cost healthcare systems billions annually (2). Investing in communication CPD can therefore reduce risk, improve patient outcomes, and deliver long-term financial savings.

CPD Approaches to Communication Training

Traditional CPD activities in communication training include:

  • Role-play scenarios
  • Reflective practice and supervision
  • Mentorship programmes
  • Classroom workshops

These approaches are valuable but often resource-intensive, time-limited, and inconsistent in quality. Evidence emphasises the need for ongoing CPD in communication, as skills require reinforcement and adaptation to evolving challenges (6).

The Role of Innovation in CPD

New methods are emerging to make CPD in communication more scalable and cost-effective. Simulation-based training and AI-powered platforms allow healthcare professionals to practice difficult conversations in safe, flexible, and repeatable ways.

For example, an evaluation of AI-driven consultation training for general practitioners demonstrated significant educational benefits while reducing resource demands (5).

Other reviews highlight that virtual simulation tools and AI integration can substantially improve accessibility and personalisation in communication training (3,9). These innovations do not replace traditional methods but enhance them, making CPD in communication more sustainable across the NHS.

Practical Steps for Healthcare Professionals

Healthcare organisations and individual professionals can strengthen communication through CPD by:

  1. Embedding communication into CPD requirements alongside clinical skills.
  2. Encouraging peer feedback and reflection as part of everyday practice.
  3. Providing multidisciplinary training to improve team communication.
  4. Adopting innovative CPD tools to ensure consistency and wide accessibility.
  5. Tracking outcomes by linking communication training to reduced complaints and improved patient satisfaction.

Conclusion

Communication failures in healthcare are a persistent cause of harm, cost, and dissatisfaction. CPD in communication skills is not optional—it is essential for patient safety, professional effectiveness, and system sustainability. By embedding communication training into CPD frameworks and embracing innovative approaches, healthcare professionals can build the confidence, clarity, and empathy needed for high-quality care.

We hope this article was helpful. For more information from SimFlow.ai, please visit their CPD Member Directory page. Alternatively, you can go to the CPD Industry Hubs for more articles, courses and events relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements.

References

  1. Elendu, C. et al. (2024) ‘The impact of simulation-based training in medical education’, PMC. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11224887/
  2. Feigerlova, E. et al. (2025) ‘A systematic review of the impact of artificial intelligence on health professions education’, BMC Medical Education, 25. doi:10.1186/s12909-025-06719-5.
  3. Hamilton, A. (2024) ‘Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare Simulation: The Shifting Landscape of Medical Education’, Cureus, 16(5): e59747. doi:10.7759/cureus.59747.
  4. Hollis, J.L. et al. (2021) ‘The impact of Healthy Conversation Skills (HCS) training on health professionals’ barriers to having behaviour change conversations: a pre-post survey using the Theoretical Domains Framework’, BMC Health Services Research, 21(880). doi:10.1186/s12913-021-06893-4.
  5. Jacobs, C., Kabbyo, H. and Singh, A. (2025) ‘Enhancing GP consultation skills training: educational evaluation of a conversational AI innovation for simulated consultation assessment preparation’, Education for Primary Care, pp.1–9. doi:10.1080/14739879.2025.2551207.
  6. Mugweni, E. et al. (2025) ‘“I would have said ‘bad news’ but now I say ‘different news”: Mixed methods evaluation of a communication skills training for healthcare professionals in the first 1000 days of life’, PLOS ONE, 20(5): e0319092. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0319092.
  7. NHS Digital (2021) Data on written complaints in the NHS. Available at: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/data-on-written-complaints-in-the-nhs/2020-21-quarter-1-and-quarter-2.
  8. Steiner, R. (2025) ‘Restoring trust in public health: communications lessons from …’, European Journal of Public Health, 35(Suppl_2), pp. ii9–ii12. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckae146.
  9. Fernández-Alcántara, M. et al. (2025) ‘Virtual simulation tools for communication skills training in medical education: a review’, JMIR Medical Education, 1:e63082. doi:10.2196/63082.