Supporting the physicians of the future with our NextGenPhysicians campaign

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Are you a resident doctor? At the start of your medical career? 

In September 2023, the RCP published Shape of medicine, in which we promised to explore how we can improve the experience of medical training and assess the impact of the changing medical workforce.

2025 is the year of 'next gen' at the RCP. As the voice of medicine, our college is committed to putting residents at the heart of everything we do. 

Last year, as a direct result of the feedback we were receiving from our fellows and members, the RCP launched our resident-led next generation campaign, a cross-college initiative that aims to support and empower residents to deliver the best possible patient care, while advocating for radical reform of the postgraduate medical training system.

Competition ratios for postgraduate training places 

The RCP is clear that medical students and early career doctors must be supported to train and work in the NHS throughout their careers. 

We’ve worked with our Resident Doctor Committee (RDC) and our Student Foundation Doctor Network (SFDN) to raise the issue of competition ratios in the media and with government. The RCP president, Dr Mumtaz Patel, along with our RDC and SFDN chairs, meet regularly with Professor Chris Whitty, chief medical officer and his team to raise our concerns. 

In February 2025, we published a brand new position statement, Left in the lurch, which said: 

‘From university graduation through to their first consultant or specialist role, doctors should be supported and empowered to train and work in the NHS throughout their careers. For every new medical school place created, we need a commensurate expansion in foundation and specialty training posts, based on population need in different parts of the country. A review of postgraduate medical training should address competition ratios for specialty training and ensure that publicly funded medical school places lead to the recruitment of more NHS doctors.’

The launch of this position statement was covered in the media by the Independent, by The BMJ and by The Financial Times, among others. 

What else are we doing to influence change? 

The results of our recent national next gen survey of more than 1,000 resident doctors informed our detailed response to the NHS England medical training review. 

Position statements, op-ed blogs, podcasts, webinars, conferences and events, the list goes on! 

For example, a panel of resident doctors led a very well attended main stage next gen panel debate at our 2025 annual conference that was held at our home in Regent’s Park in June. 

In the past 5 years, the RCP has successfully campaigned for an NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, the expansion of medical school and postgraduate training places and a review of postgraduate medical training. 

We will continue to push for urgent action on competition ratios for postgraduate training places, more detailed workforce data to help us model the future medical specialty workforce, and putting resident doctors at the centre of the conversation about the 10 Year Health Plan. 

Want to get involved? Get in touch with us: NextGen@rcp.ac.uk 

Read our latest update

Next generation oversight group 

Reporting to RCP Council, the next generation oversight group will oversee and guide cross-college activity on the development, implementation and evaluation of workforce-related policies. The group will ensure that workforce policies align with the strategic objectives of the RCP, address workforce challenges, and promote the delivery of high quality patient care. The oversight group will: 

  • review existing RCP workforce policies
  • provide recommendations for updates to policy positions related to workforce, recruitment and training
  • provide advice and guidance on strategic priorities such as recruitment, retention, workforce planning, medical education and training, and workforce well-being
  • identify emerging workforce issues and recommend strategic actions to address them
  • facilitate collaboration and communication within the college.

The oversight group will be supported by our NextGenPhysicians reference group, an online community of RCP fellows and members.  

Read our terms of reference

Read the latest blog posts from this series

Join the conversation.

See all NextGenPhysicians blogs
Blog
22/10/26
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From journal club to digital platform: how medical students are reshaping research education
Blog
19/10/26
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Clearing today’s NHS backlog must not come at the expense of tomorrow’s doctors
Blog
14/10/26
Training Physician Toolkit 3

The future NHS depends on the doctors we train today
Blog
14/10/26
Training Physician Toolkit 3

Training cannot be something that happens only when the NHS has time
Blog
14/10/26
Training Physician Toolkit 4

Why protecting medical expertise matters for patients
Blog
14/10/26
Training Physician Toolkit 3

Good training should not depend on luck
Blog
14/10/26
Training Physician Toolkit 2

The case for training reform has been made – it’s time for action
Blog
14/10/26
Training Physician Toolkit 2

There’s no single career pathway through medicine
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We’re here to support you every step of the way in your medical career

Are you preparing for PACES? Want to brush up on your clinical knowledge? From our podcast series RCP Medicine to our workshops and training courses, there’s something for everyone. 

If you’re interested in learning more about leadership or medical education, our RCP OnlineEd e-learning courses are free for members.

Find out more about our range of courses
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Be part of something bigger

Being an RCP member gives you access to targeted benefits that will support you to develop your career as a physician and clinical leader, including:

Find out more about RCP membership
Conference discussion

Discover more NextGenPhysicians news and download our resources

Blog
22/10/26
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From journal club to digital platform: how medical students are reshaping research education

Winner of the education, training and medical professionalism category at the 2026 RCP virtual poster competition, medical student Ben Macfarlane discusses here how he transformed a student-led journal club into a national initiative and suite of digital platforms designed to tackle some of the biggest barriers to research engagement in undergraduate medicine.
Blog
19/10/26
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Clearing today’s NHS backlog must not come at the expense of tomorrow’s doctors

Drawing on ideas from his paper, From capacity to sustainability: Rethinking healthcare flow, published in the latest issue of the RCP journal Future Healthcare Journal, consultant surgeon Mr Mohamed Alkashty argues that reducing waiting lists must not come at the expense of workforce wellbeing or the time, supervision and opportunities needed to train the next generation of doctors.
Report
14/10/26
Training Physician Toolkit 1

Training physicians for the future: a blueprint for reforming postgraduate medical training

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has published a new report setting out a blueprint for reforming postgraduate medical training across the UK.
Blog
14/10/26
Training Physician Toolkit 3

Training cannot be something that happens only when the NHS has time

Reflecting on the findings of the RCP’s report Training physicians for the future, resident doctors Dr Alice Cole and Dr Áine Corry argue that training can no longer be treated as something that happens around service delivery. In this next generation blog, they make the case for a training system built around protected learning time, continuity, high-quality supervision and the recognition that investing in training is ultimately an investment in patient care.
Blog
14/10/26
Training Physician Toolkit 4

Why protecting medical expertise matters for patients

Reflecting on the findings of the RCP’s report Training physicians for the future, Resident Doctor Committee (RDC) deputy chair Dr Max Thoburn argues that the future NHS depends on doctors developing both broad generalist capabilities and deep specialist expertise. In this next generation blog, he makes the case for protecting the opportunities to develop clinical judgement, procedural skills and decision-making that patients rely on when they are most in need within an ever more stretched NHS.
News
14/10/26
Training Physician Toolkit 1

Medical training quality should be scrutinised as closely as patient safety, says RCP

The quality of medical training should be measured and scrutinised as seriously as NHS finances, operational performance and patient safety, according to a major new report published today by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP).
Blog
14/10/26
Training Physician Toolkit 2

There’s no single career pathway through medicine

Reflecting on the findings of the RCP’s report Training physicians for the future resident doctors Dr Laura Bannon and Dr Sacha Moore argue that postgraduate medical training has not kept pace with the realities of modern medicine. In this next generation blog, as more doctors pursue flexible careers, academic opportunities and non-linear training pathways, they make the case for a system that recognises capability wherever it is developed and prepares physicians for the future.
Blog
14/10/26
Training Physician Toolkit 2

The case for training reform has been made – it’s time for action

Reflecting on the findings of the RCP’s report Training physicians for the future, elected RCP councillor Dr Patrick Davey argues that the challenges facing postgraduate training are already well understood – the real test is whether the NHS can deliver meaningful change. In this next generation blog, he sets out why medical training must be protected, measured and prioritised across the system if the NHS is to provide the education that future doctors need.
Blog
14/10/26
Training Physician Toolkit 3

Good training should not depend on luck

Reflecting on the findings of the RCP’s report Training physicians for the future, resident doctors Dr Stephen Joseph and Dr Alexandra Pain argue that we know what good medical training looks like. The challenge is ensuring it is delivered consistently. In this next generation blog, they make the case for stronger accountability and a training system that is monitored, measured and improved with the same seriousness as patient safety, workforce and operational performance.