2021 has been a year of recovery and restructure for the RCP.
For many organisations, the enduring impact of the pandemic presented a number of challenges in 2021. For the RCP, the past year has been one of recovery and restructure. Our focus was on re-establishing the delivery of our core charitable purpose having lost a third of our income in 2020. In doing so, we have moved to a financially balanced position and with our influence stronger than ever. This says much about our staff and our membership.
Reflecting on the year, we are particularly proud of two significant milestones – a growing membership which has surpassed our previous strategy target of 40,000 and the opening of The Spine, our new home in Liverpool. These achievements demonstrate both our commitment to continued innovation and our impact as a modern professional organisation. The RCP logo literally shines out over the city of Liverpool and our presence has stimulated inward investment into the Knowledge Quarter and positively impacted on the area’s health economy – a powerful reminder of our continuing responsibility and relevance.
The year has not been without challenge and the physician workforce has been under pressure both in the UK and across the globe in a way not seen in our lifetime. The response of physicians has been inspiring and gives us much hope for the future.
Prior to the pandemic our members told us that we should focus our efforts on our three strengths: educating, improving and influencing. This report shows how that has been achieved across all the different parts of the college. Our new strategy for 2022–24 cements these three priorities firmly in our everyday work and will guide our future activity.