Since the last edition of Commentary in April, 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.
King Charles III Birthday honours 2026
King Charles III’s Birthday Honours 2026 recognise a number of RCP fellows and a member for their leadership and achievements in healthcare, research and medical education.
The RCP fellows and member honoured are:
Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)
Professor Dame Parveen June KUMAR DBE FRCP, professor emerita of medicine and education, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London
For services to global medical education and health.
Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)
Professor Carol Elspeth Goodeve BRAYNE CBE FRCP, professor emeritus and senior visiting fellow, department of psychiatry, University of Cambridge
For services to medicine, medical research and public health.
Professor Melanie Jane HALL (Melanie Jane Davies) CBE FRCP, professor of diabetes medicine, University of Leicester.
For services to global diabetes research, policy and care management.
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Professor Timothy Robin ORCHARD FRCP, chief executive, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and professor of gastroenterology, Imperial College London
For services to the NHS and healthcare research and innovation.
Professor Sarah Joanna TABRIZI FMedSci FRS FRCP, professor of clinical neurology, University College London.
For services to people with Huntington’s disease.
Professor Ian Stuart YOUNG FRCP, consultant chemical pathologist, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and chief scientific advisor to the Department of Health
For services to health services research and development and to health education.
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Professor Andrew Tyler ELDER FRCP, lately president, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
For services to medicine and to medical education
Professor Mohamed Wasim HANIF FRCP, clinical adviser, Diabetes UK and professor of diabetes and endocrinology, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
For services to diabetes and to health inequalities.
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Dr Niall Gerald James KEENAN FRCP, divisional director for medicine services, West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
For services to the NHS.
Dr Inderpal SINGH, FRCP, national clinical lead, Falls and Fragility Fracture Audit Programme (FFFAP).
For services to osteoporosis care in Wales.
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Dr John Richard BUSCOMBE FRCP, lately consultant in nuclear medicine, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
For services to nuclear medicine.
Professor Ghulam Andre NG FRCP, head of department, cardiovascular sciences, University of Leicester and president, British Cardiovascular Society.
For services to medical research and healthcare.
Professor Lakshminarayan Rao RANGANATH MRCP, trustee and co-founder, Alkaptonuria Society.
For services to people with alkaptonuria.
British Empire Medal (BEM)
Dr Tyrrell George John Robert EVANS FRCP, vice-president, St Christopher’s Hospice.
For services to palliative care.
Overseas and international List
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Dr Peter John BAXTER FRCP, former consultation physician in public health
For services to public health and to protecting communities from volcanic hazards.
Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO)
Dr Michael David DIXON CVO OBE FRCP, head of the Royal Medical Household and doctor to The King.
Lieutenant of the Victorian Order (LVO)
Dr Robert Hywel THOMAS FRCP, clinical radiologist to The King.
RCP governance matters
Read the latest updates on RCP governance matters and find your opportunities to get involved.
The RCP Council met in open session in May to discuss the new organisation-wide strategy, medical training reform, corridor care and the work of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
You can read a full summary of the open section of the meeting on the RCP news page.
As part of the RCP’s commitment to transparency, summaries of all open session Council discussions are published online following each meeting.
- RCP publishes summary of March 2026 Council meeting
- RCP publishes summary of September 2025 Council meeting.
- RCP publishes summary of November 2025 Council meeting.
- RCP publishes summary of January 2026 Council meeting.
About RCP Council
RCP Council meets six times a year to debate, develop and approve policy on professional and clinical matters.
- Learn more about the governance of the RCP.
- Read about the role and responsibilities of Council.
- Read about our impact in the media.
- Read our recent news stories and blogs.
Council meeting minutes (open section) are published in the member-only section of the RCP website once they are approved at the following meeting. The closed section of the meeting is reserved for fellowship and business-sensitive information.
For more information, please contact Council@rcp.ac.uk.
Please note that the AGM is scheduled for Tuesday 22 September 2026. It will be a hybrid meeting held 5–7pm and followed by a dinner (for pre-booked fellows).
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.
Read about 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 has published its new 5-year strategy, setting out a clear plan to strengthen support for physicians and amplify the voice of the profession.
Based on extensive engagement with members, fellows and stakeholders, the new 2026–30 strategy reflects a clear message from physicians across the UK and globally: they want a modern royal college that offers a stronger sense of community and belonging, high-quality education, exams and standards, and a more visible, confident and influential voice that shapes the future of medicine.
Launching the strategy, Professor Mumtaz Patel, RCP president, said:
‘Physicians are working in an increasingly complex and pressured NHS. This strategy is about ensuring they have the support, education and voice they need to deliver the best possible care. Our members told us clearly that they want a college that stands alongside them – one that listens, supports and speaks up with confidence on the issues that matter most to them and their patients. This strategy is our commitment to delivering exactly that.’
The strategy marks a significant moment of renewal for the college. Running until the end of 2030, it is structured around four strategic priorities – connection, standards, voice and renewal – which together set a clear direction for the RCP over the next 5 years:
- The professional home of physicians: The RCP will lead a more inclusive, connected and representative global community of physicians across specialties and career stages, providing members with practical support to navigate the challenges of modern clinical practice.
- Excellence in education and standards: The RCP will deliver high-quality, globally respected education, exams and standards, supporting physicians to develop the skills and expertise they need throughout their careers.
- A stronger, more influential voice: The RCP will advocate for the changes needed to improve patient care and support the medical workforce, ensuring that the insights and expertise of our members influence policy and shape public debate on the issues that matter most.
- Resilient and ready for the future: The RCP will modernise ways of working and strengthen management and governance through organisational redesign. This will ensure long-term financial sustainability and that resource is focused where the college can have the greatest strategic impact for physicians and their patients.
Equity and inclusion are embedded throughout the strategy, with a commitment to addressing health inequalities and advocating for improved outcomes for underserved communities.
Hundreds of physicians came together on 13–14 May at the RCP’s London home for its annual conference. Across 2 days of expert-led sessions, Medicine 2026 brought together leading voices to explore the biggest challenges and opportunities in modern healthcare, from the rapid evolution of AI to the realities of delivering care in communities.
In a reflection on the topic in Commentary, Dr Aklak Choudhury, RCP clinical director for improvement programmes, shares his thoughts on several of the sessions.
One of the highlights of the conference was the abstract competition, which saw hundreds of doctors presenting their posters in-person and online. You can read more about this event in this edition of Commentary.
If you couldn’t make every session live, want to revisit the insights that matter most to your day-to-day practice or buy an online pass now, Medicine 2026 content is still open to access. On-demand access is available until September, keeping you connected to the conversations shaping the future of medicine.
Secure your on-demand ticket before 29 June 2026.
Over the past 2 months, the RCP has published multiple responses to bills and consultations. The RCP news pages contain full details of the following stories:
- RCP response to Lord Mann’s review of antisemitism and racism in the NHS
- RCP responds to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill becoming law
- RCP Cymru Wales responds to Senedd election and appointment of new first minister
- RCP responds to publication of latest NHS England waiting time statistics
- RCP responds to the King's Speech 2026 and the announcement of the NHS Modernisation Bill
- RCP responds to DHSC consultation on reforming the GMC legislative framework
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has today published its SAS priorities for 2026–30, setting out a clear programme of work to improve recognition, career development and representation for specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) doctors across the UK.
The new priorities reaffirm the RCP’s commitment to ensuring that all doctors – regardless of career stage, contract status or specialty – have access to development opportunities, leadership roles and professional recognition.
SAS and locally employed doctors are an increasingly vital part of the NHS workforce. However, despite their growing numbers, they currently make up just 4% of UK subscribing RCP members. The RCP says that more must be done to support this group and ensure that their skills and expertise are fully recognised and utilised.
Developed in consultation with the RCP SAS regional network, the RCP’s SAS priorities for 2026–30 focus on five key areas:
- Recognition and respect: The RCP will showcase the invaluable contribution of SAS doctors to the NHS and promote consistent, positive messaging that reflects their expertise.
- Career development and medical education: The RCP will campaign for equitable access to professional development, including study leave, educational supervision, protected training time and leadership opportunities.
- Culture, wellbeing and community: The RCP will work to foster inclusive, supportive workplace cultures and highlight best practice in supporting SAS doctors, including those joining the NHS from overseas.
- A stronger collective voice: The RCP will strengthen the voice of SAS doctors in medicine and across the health system and continue to support initiatives such as the #SASSix campaign.
- Reform of postgraduate medical training: The RCP will play a leading role in the conversation on the future of medical training, including career pathways outside formal training programmes and promoting flexible, non-traditional routes.
The RCP will also continue to invest in practical support for SAS doctors through initiatives such as its SAS Leadership Programme, which equips SAS doctors with the skills, confidence and networks needed to take on leadership roles within the health system. Applications for the 2026–27 cohort are now open.
Read more on the importance of SAS roles and the opportunities they provide in Commentary.
A new report from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) sets out the unequal and devastating health and economic impact of smoking in the UK, shaped by poverty, poor housing, employment insecurity and industry practices. The report calls on government to introduce opt out tobacco dependency treatment across all NHS services as a matter of public health and economic urgency.
In 2026, smoking remains the biggest avoidable cause of death and disability in the UK, but its impact is far from equal. Smoking rates and harms are increasingly concentrated among people experiencing poverty, unemployment, mental health conditions, insecure housing and social exclusion.
Place based inequalities remain stark. In Blackpool, one of the UK’s most deprived towns, nearly one in five people smoke, a rate almost five times higher than in affluent Woking, where only 4% of the population smokes.
In its new report, Smoking, health and social justice, the RCP is calling on government to introduce opt out tobacco dependency treatment services across every NHS setting, including emergency departments, primary care, outpatient services and neighbourhood health services. Under this approach, everyone who smokes and has contact with the NHS would be automatically referred to quit support unless they choose not to participate.
Read more in a Commentary interview with Professor Sanjay Agrawal, RCP special adviser on tobacco.
Award winners
Did you know we distribute around £350,000 in RCP funding and awards to our members and fellows every year?
Thanks to historic donations, we are able to recognise and invest in the expertise, innovation and leadership of our members, celebrate their impact and achievements, and support our global community to make real change and shape the future of medicine.
Our latest award winners are Professor Nicholas Hopkinson (Milroy lectureship 2026) and Dr Dorinda Chandrabose (Teale Essay Prize).
We are also delighted to announce the winners of 12 medical student elective bursaries. Congratulations to:
- Ademola Oyejobi
- Aishwarya Shah
- Anitha Uthayasooriyan
- Diya Shah
- Jaume Margalef Rieres
- Ng Wee Han
- Nicole Chiu
- Nicolette Wong
- Phebe Ijaduola
- Rasi Mizori
- Sara Misku
- Trisha Saha
We have also announced the shortlisted teams for the Excellence in Patient Care Awards 2026. Read about the 2025 winning projects in Commentary.
Find out more about RCP funding and awards.
Coming up
There is plenty more to look forward to in 2026, including a variety of events for resident doctors and new consultants. Here are a selection of educational programmes, webinars and other opportunities to look out for in the next few months.
RCP events and upcoming opportunities
Clinical Medicine is 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.’
In a partnership with the RCP, Wellbeing of Women (WoW) is a charity focused on saving and changing the lives of women, girls and babies.
Wellbeing of Women–RCP entry level scholarships (ELS) provide single candidates with up to £20,000 for up to 12 months.
These awards will fund pre-doctoral physicians in projects aimed at improving outcomes for women, girls and babies related to a woman’s reproductive and gynaecological health.
Applicants must be subscribing members of the RCP, and research undertaken in the UK.
This fellowship was established in honour of the late Nancy Crawshaw. Funding from the trust will support salary costs, allowing an individual to undertake a 12-month quality improvement project that will positively impact the delivery of clinical care for patients in Wales.
The RCP is proud to partner with the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) for their 2nd Annual Global AI Conference, taking place on 29–30 June 2026. The 2-day event will bring together clinicians from across specialties to explore how AI can be safely and effectively integrated into clinical practice.
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.
Over the period of 16 April – 18 June 2026, the RCP was informed of the deaths of the following fellows:
- Robert Adams
- Arthur Richard Robyn Cain
- Rudolf Arnold
- David Oliver Gibbons
- John Gerard Garvin Ledingham
- Daniel Czarny
- Hassan Burhan
- Malcolm Paul Weston Godfrey
- Peter Horrocks
- David Dawson Hilton
- John Michael O'Brien
