This annual report covers RCP activities in 2024. The year marked a very challenging period in the RCP’s long history, dominated by increasing concerns from our members about the role of physician associates, an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) and changes in leadership.
Following the EGM, we commissioned The King’s Fund to undertake an independent review to support our learning. We accepted the report’s recommendations in full and developed an action plan to implement them.
We refocused and, despite these challenges, achieved a huge amount of activity across our three strategic priority areas of educating, improving and influencing. This was delivered through the continued support and hard work of our volunteers – members and fellows – and staff.
Highlights include successful Medicine and Med+ conferences, the launch of a new leadership programme for SAS doctors, the next generation of physicians campaign and the publication of a wealth of new materials, including educational and career guidance for SAS doctors, an evidence report on e-cigarettes, a Green physician toolkit and guidance on tackling health inequalities.
Following a challenging year, we want to focus on stability for the college and working hard to regain the trust and confidence of our membership. This means continuing to take action to support the next generation of physicians, as well as fully delivering on the recommendations of The King’s Fund review.
We will modernise the RCP through a constitutional and governance review and developing a new strategy, to become a membership body that supports and is relevant to all the physicians we serve.
Thank you to everyone who supported our work this year. We will ensure that we keep listening to our members and act on what you tell us.