Since the last edition of Commentary in August, the RCP has been working to represent our members and support the work of physicians. Read our summary of the news from the last 2 months and the upcoming opportunities.
Council meetings move to being more open for members
September saw a change in the way RCP Council is run with meeting proceedings opening up to the full membership. Meetings are now organised with an open and closed section, with agendas, meeting summaries and minutes shared on the website.
Council is the key RCP committee that considers and acts on current issues affecting the medical profession, meeting six times a year to shape policy positions, professional practice and standards. The Medical Specialties Board – which brings together representatives of the 30 plus physician specialties – reports directly to Council, while other committees share updates with Council to inform key topics.
Chaired by the RCP president, Council’s membership includes senior college officers, directly elected councillors and other representatives involved in the college’s work including specialist society and faculty leaders. From September, agendas will be publicised prior to each meeting, summaries will be uploaded to the website within 10 working days and minutes will be shared there once approved.
Members will be more actively encouraged to shape agendas through representative networks such as regional advisers, college tutors and committees. There will also be the opportunity from the new year to request observation status at the meetings via the registrar (registrar@rcp.ac.uk).
This new move is aimed at encouraging more openness and transparency and proactively encouraging the membership to get their voice heard on the issues that matter most at this key policy shaping forum. It also means that the ‘Faith’, an RCP bye-law around confidentiality that all Council members sign up to before their first meeting, will only apply to the closed section of the meetings to protect discussions around sensitive fellowship, confidential, financial or commercial subjects.
You can find information about Council meetings, Council membership, forward meeting dates and associated papers behind the RCP membership login here
RCP governance matters
Read the latest updates on RCP governance matters and find your opportunities to get involved.
- Fellows and members can view the video of the AGM on the RCP website (behind the website login). This includes the presidential address, presentations from senior officers and the reports of the Board of Trustees and Council. All submitted reports and appointments were accepted by the fellows present at the meeting who voted.
- Proposals for modernising election processes were discussed under Item 7. Fellows who were unable to attend the meeting are strongly encouraged to view proceedings (see link above) and vote in the post-meeting online ballot. This included an opening presentation from the registrar, (invited) comment from the co-chair of Resident Doctor Committee and a fellow speaking on behalf of 27 signatories who submitted a motion to Council after the AGM agenda was released. Council agreed on the morning of the AGM that this motion would be discussed during the AGM but that it would not progress to a vote.
- Voting is now open until 10 October (closing at 5pm). The ballot is supported by Civica Election Services (CES). Subscribing fellows, in good standing, should have received an email on 26 September 2025 from takepart@CESvotes.com. Fellows should note that the focus of the proposals relate to RCP elections processes only. Other privileges of fellowship would not be affected - including voting in AGM and EGM, and eligibility for college leadership roles.
- Thanks are due to Professor Coziana Ciurtin who delivered the Lady Estelle Wolfson Lecture 2025: Novel biomarkers for cardiovascular risk stratification in children and young people with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE). Please do view the lecture on demand if you were unable to join on the day.
The RCP annual report 2024: Listening to our members is now available.
New arrangements have been introduced to improve the transparency of Council. A dedicated section of the website explains further and you can read more information in the section above.
- At September Council members broadly welcomed the review of the election cycle 2025. The review proposals will be refined further and aligned with the college’s ongoing governance improvement work programme to establish the election arrangements and timetable 2026. These will be shared when the nomination period for the roles of senior censor / vice president for education and training, vice president for Wales and new councillors opens in December.
- The special general meeting (SGM) of fellows to elect a president will be held on Monday 30 March 2026 as part of College Day. The Fitzpatrick and Samuel Gee Lectures will take place as well as a dinner. Further details of the process and arrangements will follow.
Our officer, committee and other clinical volunteer roles are an ideal opportunity to support the RCP, guide our decision-making and ensure the voice of the membership is included across all activity. Visit the RCP website to see the latest opportunities.
Recent RCP work
Read more about our work, from publications, award winners and responses to healthcare reports, on our News and opinion page – and see some of the recent highlights below.
The RCP launched its manifesto for the 2026 Senedd election, calling on all political parties to commit to urgent action to address the medical workforce crisis, tackle health inequalities and fix social care in Wales.
The RCP manifesto – The road to recovery – warns that without decisive action, pressures on NHS staff and services will continue to escalate, undermining the ability of physicians to deliver safe and effective care. Developed in partnership with NHS Wales doctors, it sets out a clear vision for how the next Welsh government can build a sustainable health and social care system.
In the last few months, the RCP has responded to several announcements, reports and publications – and urged government to act to improve healthcare. You can read more about our policy work over the past few months:
- The RCP launched new policy position on end-of-life and palliative care, calling on government and health system leaders to transform how dying is recognised and supported across the NHS and social care.
- The RCP responded to NHS England’s publication of a 10 Point Plan to improve resident doctors’ working lives, welcoming the call to action and identifying the need for further engagement ahead of the publication of the 10 Year Workforce Plan.
- The RCP has responded to NHS England's latest performance stats, calling for NHSE to urgently publish data on corridor care.
- The RCP joined more than 70 health and care organisations that have written to the secretary of state for health and social care Wes Streeting, telling him they ‘stand ready’ to offer their considerable expertise as they call for meaningful engagement on the development of the 10 year workforce plan.
- The RCP responded to the competition ratios for the 2025 recruitment round.
- The RCP responded to the latest workplace experiences report from the General Medical Council which echoed our own recent next generation survey of more than 1,000 resident doctors.
- The RCP and other expert bodies called for an overhaul of how cancer treatment decisions are made in order to improve patient outcomes amid rising demand and increasingly complex treatment options.
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has welcomed refugee and displaced doctors from across the world with a 12-month free membership scheme, helping them to continue their professional development and stay connected to medicine while rebuilding their lives in the UK.
Launched to celebrate Refugee Week in June 2025, the RCP scheme has so far supported 45 doctors from more than 15 countries, including Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan and Libya.
Welcoming attendees at this week’s online session for new members, Dr Emma Mitchell, associate global director for international medical graduates and a consultant geriatrician in Bristol, said the RCP’s role is to enhance existing support.
‘There are many displaced doctors in the UK,’ she explained. ‘The RCP believes we have a moral and ethical role in helping doctors to re-establish their professional identity, connect with relevant professional bodies and support their journey back into employment. We hope to help refugee physicians to rebuild their lives and careers in the UK.’
You can read more about this work on our website.
The RCP Museum has opened a major new exhibition, A body of knowledge: Discover 500 years of book collecting at the Royal College of Physicians, exploring one of the most significant doctors’ libraries in England. The exhibition is now open to the public at the RCP Museum in Regent’s Park, London, and will run until 23 July 2026.
Through the RCP’s historic collection – a library which has been in continuous existence since 1518 – visitors can uncover how physicians of the past learned their craft, connected with ideas beyond medicine, and shaped their professional identity. These ambitions and concerns gave the library its distinctive character, setting it apart from the collections of other institutions of a similar age. A series of events will run alongside the exhibition from Museum Lates, talks and storytelling performances, to children’s crafts and illuminated lettering workshops.
You can read all about this exhibition, and see some of the incredible books in a recent Commentary article.
The RCP has appointed Dr Kate Fayers, consultant in diabetes at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, as the new RCP clinical adviser in flexible working, based in the Medical Workforce Data and Insights team (formerly known as the Medical Workforce Unit). She took up her post at the end of September 2025.
You can read more about her background and the role on our website.
Upcoming opportunities
Learn more about our conferences, competitions and opportunities for publications.
The RCP is launching a new programme of work focused on the prevention and management of cardiometabolic disease, one of the most pressing health challenges of our time. This initiative will bring together system leaders, clinicians and community partners to explore bold, collaborative approaches to improving population health.
This work is rooted in the ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan and supports the three strategic shifts: moving from reactive to proactive care, integrating services around the person, and strengthening prevention at scale. Cardiometabolic disease sits at the intersection of these priorities, disproportionately affecting people with multiple long-term conditions and driving health inequalities across the UK.
Dr Anita Banerjee FRCP, diabetologist and obstetric physician stated: 'Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity for women. Health inequity continues to widen. Early recognition and prevention are key. We will address the gap and take action together.'
Professor Andrew J Krentz FRCP, consultant physician in diabetes and endocrinology said: ‘The obesity pandemic is driving unprecedented levels of closely interconnected cardiometabolic diseases. There is an urgent need to address this burgeoning nexus of cardio-renal-hepatic-metabolic-central nervous system disorders. These multidisciplinary clinical summits will examine the current provision of care and explore emerging opportunities to improve prevention and management’.
Through a series of summits, we will convene voices from across the spectrum to share learning, shape strategy and accelerate action. The programme will focus on practical solutions – spanning clinical practice, public health, and system design – that can help reduce the burden of disease and improve outcomes for individuals and communities.
We invite all interested parties to stay connected, and to keep an eye on upcomings comms and social media, as we share updates, resources and opportunities to get involved. Together, we can reimagine prevention and improve outcomes for people at risk of cardiometabolic disease.
On Tuesday 11 – Wednesday 12 November, we will be hosting Med+ 2025. Speakers from our regional and international networks will join us for essential clinical updates in over 20 specialties, giving delegates greater insight into different illnesses, conditions and diseases.
Across the 2 days, you will enjoy:
- the latest updates in acute, general and specialty medicine
- interactive sessions, workshops and wellbeing activities
- networking opportunities with our community of healthcare professionals.
We are delighted to offer Med+ as a hybrid conference, meaning you can attend in person at the RCP at Regent’s Park in London, or online. All tickets give you access to the online platform, where you can watch conference content until 10 February 2026.
This event is suitable for delegates from all career grades and specialties.
You can find out more and book tickets now.
We’re proud to announce that the RCP’s peer-reviewed journal Clinical Medicine’s impact factor has risen from 3.6 to 3.9; it is now among the top 15% of general medical publications worldwide. By publishing open access with Clinical Medicine, you can:
- expand your reach
- amplify your visibility
- connect with collaborators across the globe
- contribute to high-quality educational resources supporting clinical practice.
As an RCP member you can publish in the journal for free. That’s a saving of up to £1,850 per article (depending on exchange rate).
Join our many members who have published original research for free, including RCP fellow Professor Trisha Greenhalgh, who told us how the fee waiver has benefited her:
‘Clinical Medicine processed our paper promptly and we were delighted to discover that we were exempt from the publication fee because we were members and fellows of the RCP. This was a significant benefit at a time when our grant had run dry. The paper has been highly accessed and widely cited.’
Fundamentals of self-leadership for doctors
This interactive 1-day workshop aims to empower you to recognise and cultivate your medical leadership potential. Through facilitated interactive discussions and practical activities, the workshop will help you to explore your personal leadership style and how to develop as an authentic leader. 5 CPD credits.
Fundamentals of leading others for doctors
This workshop is designed to empower you with the essential organisational leadership skills needed to navigate complex healthcare systems, advocate for your team – and champion equality, diversity and inclusion. 5 CPD credits.
Developing yourself as a senior medical leader
This workshop seeks to empower you as an experienced medical leader and to support you in refining your leadership approach as you transition into senior leadership roles, focusing on self-reflection and personalised development. 5 CPD credits.
Leading teams and cultures in senior medical roles
This intensive workshop will equip you as an experienced medical leader with the skills to cultivate inclusive workplace cultures within diverse healthcare teams. 5 CPD credits.
RCP educational supervisor workshop and accreditation
The RCP's educational supervisor workshop and accreditation has been developed to meet the latest General Medical Council (GMC) standards and give formal recognition to those with an explicit supervision role.
This course is suitable for doctors who are supervising resident doctors of any grade and specialty, or for those who are soon to become educational supervisors. 10 CPD credits.
Funding and awards
Learn more about our opportunities for funding and awards that RCP members can apply for.
Made possible by a generous bequest from Dorothy Whitney-Wood, the scholarship offers up to £50,000 for research in all areas of medicine and healthcare, with a particular emphasis on work concerning cancer.
Named after the RCP's first president, Thomas Linacre, the lectureship offers RCP members aged under 40 the opportunity to present on an original piece of unpublished work suitable for a general audience.
Deceased fellows
Munk’s Roll is the RCP’s collection of biographies of deceased fellows, published online as Inspiring Physicians. To write an obituary or notify the RCP of the death of a fellow, email munksroll@rcp.ac.uk.
Here are the deaths reported covering the period 9 August 2025 – 3 October:
- Kenneth Charles Calman
- Audrey Spencer Willis
- Werner Bauer
- Cynthia Ruth Goh
- Christopher Stephen Garrard
- Michael Frederick Sudlow
- Imtiaz Ahmed
- David Aitken Shaw
- Graham MacGregor
- Henry John Goldsmith
- Peter Lloyd Amlot
- John Cyril Leonard
- William Frederick Matthew Wallace
