The Senior Physicians Society (previously called The Quincentennial Society) is an association that provides for widows and widowers of fellows and members of the RCP and retired fellows and members of the RCP and its faculties, an opportunity to contribute to the activities of the RCP and enjoy the scientific, cultural and educational meetings to which selected speakers are invited.
Lectures are now opened to the public. They are usually held three times a year, and attract outstanding speakers across science, the arts, the humanities and issues of the day.
This event is organised by the SPS Committee.
Ticket prices
Society member/Widow(er) of a society member: £58
Not a society member: £68
Online bookings for this event are now closed. However, you can still book by emailing sps@rcp.ac.uk. Please note that at this stage, we cannot guarantee accommodation for dietary requirements. Thank you for your understanding.
10am
Building tour
For full details and to book your place, please visit the ‘Building tour’ information tab.
10am - Registration, tea and coffee
11.15am - Welcome and introduction
11.25am
Improving the wellbeing of a community: from Public Health to High Sheriff
Dr Ruth Hussey CB, OBE, DL, public health consultant, non-executive director, Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board
12.05pm
A lifetime in imaging
Dr Huw Lewis Jones, retired consultant radiologist
12.45pm - Seated lunch
2.45pm
Eyes; Ears; & Teeth
Professor John Lumley, retired surgeon, author and editor
3.25pm
Life after the RCP – aboard HMS Belfast
Clive Constable, volunteer, Imperial War Museum
4.05pm - Close of meeting
Professor Dame Jane Dacre, chair, RCP Senior Physicians Society
For those of us who have had a long and fulfilling career as a physician, the prospect of retirement can be quite daunting. From being over-timetabled and rushed off our feet in the NHS or another health system, there is now a balance between the potential for wonderful peace and quiet, and the worry about the potential for boredom and loss of professional identity.
The RCP Senior Physicians Society (SPS) provides a forum for conversations about that balance, and an opportunity to meet and share our experience with like-minded colleagues. It is a pleasure watching our SPS membership numbers consolidating and slowly rising, now that we have become an RCP member benefit, alongside things like voting rights and maintaining post-nominals! I really enjoy our events, and the networking … as well as the excellent talks that we are lucky enough to hear, on a wide variety of topics.
Some colleagues prefer to just stop and to engage in a completely different set of interests. I have chosen to wind down slowly, taking on a portfolio of medically related areas that interest me, while still finding time for other things … without what I call the ‘chores’ of working life. Those numerous work-related responsibilities that are essential, but not much fun, are not part of my portfolio.
I can now contribute on a voluntary basis, doing roles that I enjoy, and I don’t feel guilty about being abroad for work or pleasure, or for taking time off to help to look after my grandchildren.
So, what does my portfolio include now? I have a mix of pro bono work, and work that pays and enhances my NHS pension. I like to take on things that support the medical profession in some way, as I feel that my career has provided the experience to be able to do that, although the views of senior physicians are not always welcomed, especially the ‘in my day’ approach! Following my role as RCP president (2014–18), I have been lucky to be considered for senior non-executive or trustee roles in charities, and I am the current president of the Medical Women’s Federation and the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund. Both of these charities support doctors who may be struggling to find their way through the challenges of medical careers. I also have a role as president of the Medical Protection Society, which is a commercial indemnity provider, but which also focuses on the wellbeing of doctors and dentists.
In the Department of Health and Social Care, I am chair of the Gender Pay Gap Implementation Advisory Board and the UK Health Honours Committee. I am chair of the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) which evaluates the success, or otherwise, of government pledges and policies for the Health and Social Care (Select) Committee. A component of my portfolio that provokes the most envy is being a commissioner for the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine, where I get the chance to evaluate overseas medical schools … often in the Caribbean (and yes, it is very hard work). These roles are varied, fascinating and keep me thinking!
In addition to those more formal roles, I am also asked to lead shorter-term evaluation projects for health- and education-related organisations when they have a tricky issue to consider. An example of a recent one is the Commission on Pharmacy Professional Leadership. Although it is hard work, it is inspiring to work with a range of colleagues, all part of a team wanting to make things better. One frustration, however, is that after all of our hard work to find an evidence base and a consensus view,
and the report being accepted by the commissioning organisation, it then risks sitting on a shelf gathering dust! This is the so-called ‘implementation gap’, but it is very nice not to have a boss, and to voice my own opinions.
I have been very lucky to have had a career as a clinician, educator and medical education researcher, and am privileged to be able to continue to contribute in areas that I am passionate about. I also have more time to enjoy life beyond medicine, including an average of 2 days in the working week looking after my four granddaughters, or going to an exhibition, or having a walk or lunch with a friend.
Although retirement felt like the end of an era at the time, it has turned out to be more of a redirection, and an opportunity to use a different set of skills that I have learned along the way in my journey through medicine. Sometimes I feel too busy, as it is difficult to regulate the timing of what I do … but I do still have down time, and choose to spend it writing a blog for the SPS, while sitting in south-west France! That feels like a privilege to me. I can thoroughly recommend winding down slowly while still using those hard-earned skills and the experience that a working life as a physician brings.
We are thrilled to be hosting the upcoming Senior Physicians Society event at The Spine in Liverpool. Below are some interesting facts about our northern home.
The venue takes its name from the human spine, which inspired both the architectural design and its connection to health and wellbeing. Just as the spine supports the body, this landmark structure symbolises strength, connectivity, and support both in its design and in its role within the knowledge quarter. Each floor is themed around different regions of the human body, reinforcing the holistic concept behind its name. At the very top sits The Axis, representing the top vertebra of the spine. The staircase located within the back of the building was designed to mimic a human spine.
Spaces at The Spine has been designed with sustainability at its core, aligning with the WELL Building Standard and BREEAM excellence. The venue uses sustainable building materials, maximises natural daylight, and incorporates biophilic design elements to improve air quality and wellbeing. A standout feature of the building is its "lungs" a biophilic natural ventilation system that supports cleaner air and enhances wellbeing. This system is seen across the twelfth and thirteenth floors, which are designed as an open, flowing space to optimise airflow and connection with nature.
Catering is provided by Company of Cooks, who focus on ethical sourcing, reducing food waste, and using local suppliers from around the northwest.
All the surfaces and furniture within the building have had to been carefully thought out to achieve the WELL Platinum Standard. Everything down to the type of paint, plaster, woods, furniture, fabrics, and flooring. These have been carefully selected to ensure that they help promote the air quality by removing toxins, ensuring that there are no solvents used, and to ensure that sustainable materials were used.
Enjoy the opportunity to take a guided tour of The Spine.
Once you've booked to attend the Retirement event, please email SPS@rcp.ac.uk to secure your space. The tour will last approximately 45 minutes, with limited capacity, and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. When emailing, please indicate the amount of guests and their names, to avoid duplications.
Novotel Liverpool Paddington Village, conveniently located next door to the RCP Spaces at The Spine, is offering an exclusive 20% discount on their best available rates, including breakfast, for guests visiting Liverpool this October.
To book your room, please please contact the hotel’s reservations team:
When booking, please quote 'RCP Senior Physicians Society' to receive the discounted rate.
13 October 2025
2 Paddington Village, The Spine, Liverpool, L7 3FA
13 October 2025
RCP at The Spine
