We began 2022 with the launch of our new strategy focused on the three key strategic priorities of educating, improving and influencing.
We built on the RCP’s position as a thought leader, collaborator, critical
friend and enabler, as we worked throughout the year to support the NHS, improve patient care, and remain relevant to our membership and the wider healthcare community. Our members and fellows continue to be at the heart of our activities and lead national conversations on vital health and care issues.
This report is written during a time of great geopolitical uncertainty, economic challenge and the continued long tail effect of COVID-19 on NHS core services. The ongoing social impacts threaten to worsen current health inequalities and access to health. This remains a key focus for us as an organisation, with the RCP continuing to use its influence to achieve our vision of ‘a world in which everyone has the best possible health and healthcare’.
We are pleased to show a continuing improvement of our financial position in 2022. This year we have focused on harnessing the opportunities offered by The Spine (our RCP home in Liverpool), while mitigating increasing cost pressures. The Spine continues to be the beating heart of the Liverpool Knowledge Quarter, and is hosting regular meetings focused on innovation and improvement across the region. Both our people and our buildings continue to be recognised through national awards, with our membership magazine Commentary winning a key Memcom award, our meetings and events teams winning multiple national awards, and The Spine achieving a BREEAM outstanding rating. This rating measures environmental performance, assessing the use of materials, waste reduction, water and CO2 emissions, and is an illustration of our commitment to environmental sustainability.
In a year of significant change, we continue to modernise the way we deliver our strategic priorities and the governance structures that support us. RCP staff have successfully transitioned to hybrid working, and trend data have allowed us to plan the way we support them and use our buildings more efficiently. As we reflect on the year, we are pleased with our continued progress on becoming more inclusive, with targeted implementation of the Summerskill recommendations. Continuing pressure on healthcare delivery both in the UK and across the globe poses challenges which have not been seen in our lifetime. The response of our members and fellows, our physician associates and wider physician community is inspiring and fills us with hope for the future.
Annual reports naturally lend themselves to reflection. We would like to express a profound appreciation of all that our officers, volunteers, staff and membership have achieved in 2022, alongside a renewed commitment to develop and extend the RCP’s influence and impact on health and healthcare.