Dr Clare Farrington has become the 30,000th member of the RCP. As a consultant in palliative medicine, Dr Farrington adds her voice to the tens of thousands of hospital doctors working in the UK and across the globe today.
To commemorate the 30,000 landmark, Dr Farrington was awarded a stay at William Harvey House, the RCP’s Regent’s Park hotel for members and fellows, an RCP gift set, and free entry into Medicine 2015, the RCP’s new flagship conference taking place in Harrogate in March 2015.
Based at Barnsley Hospice and Barnsley district hospital in South Yorkshire, Dr Farrington provides specialist palliative advice to patients and their carers.
Dr Farrington was prompted to join the RCP in order to gain access to the online continuing professional development (CPD) diary, as well as having easy access to the RCP’s high-quality clinical documents and reports, such as the landmark Future Hospital report.
Speaking on her views of the role of the RCP for a health professional, Dr Farrington said that it was to ‘provide leadership, benchmarks and support in an ever changing NHS environment.’
A thoroughly modern organisation, the RCP was founded in 1518 by Royal Charter from Henry VIII, and this is the first time in the RCP’s history the membership level has reached 30,000. Increasing relevance, consultant expansion, and an increase in student and junior doctor membership, has contributed towards the rise in overall numbers.
Our physicians work in 30 medical specialties in every general hospital in the UK, and are at the heart of providing healthcare to patients. The RCP supports its members and fellows during every stage of their career and thus improves the quality of patient care. By setting and monitoring the standards of medical training, the RCP ensures that patients are seen by fully trained, capable doctors.
RCP president Jane Dacre said:
I am delighted to welcome Dr Clare Farrington as our 30,000th member. This is a significant milestone in the history of the RCP. The strength of the RCP lies in its members and fellows and their involvement with the RCP, and their strong commitment to the highest standards of patient care, a position which continues to help us advise both the public and the government.
Outgoing RCP president Sir Richard Thompson said:
Over the last four years of my presidency I have been privileged to see the number of RCP members grow by five thousand to 30,000. The RCP has worked hard to position itself as a modern and valuable organisation for physicians, with support for physicians at every stage of their career, tailored professional benefits, and unique and respected events. The 30,000th figure is significant - and I am sure that it will only increase in the years to come.
For more information, please contact Morgan Evans, RCP communications and new media adviser, on 020 3075 1468 / 0779 508 8253, or email Morgan.Evans@rcplondon.ac.uk
- The RCP represents 30,000 hospital doctors in 30 specialties. We support our fellows and members during every stage of their career and thus improve the quality of patient care. By setting and monitoring the standards of medical training, we ensure that patients are seen by fully trained, capable doctors. Our evidence-based guidelines and audits support our fellows and members in improving and scrutinising clinical care. Our education programmes provide physicians with the knowledge and skills they need for high performance. We also take a wide role in the public health arena through campaigning for change, advising government, and taking part in national debates on medical, clinical and public health issues.
- The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is the oldest medical college in England. Its collections relate to the history of the medical college, and to the physician's profession. Collections range from portraits, providing a pictorial and sculptural record of fellows and physicians associated with the RCP, from its foundation in 1518 to the present, the fascinating Symons collection of medical instruments, the Hoffbrand collection of apothecary jars and a rare set of six 17th century human remains - our ‘anatomical tables’.