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19/05/26
William Munk Image

Why some doctors live longer – the clues hidden in our obituaries

In this blog, Harveian librarian Professor Anita K Simonds, supported by RCP archive manager Pamela Forde, reflects on new research published in Clinical Medicine (ClinMed) that explores life expectancy among UK physicians in the early 21st century. Drawing on the RCP’s longstanding obituary series, Inspiring Physicians, the study offers fresh insight into physicians’ longevity, wellbeing and what the profession’s history can tell us about supporting healthier, more sustainable medical careers today.
Blog
12/05/26
Young Doctors Walking Through Corridor

Spotlight on local innovation – the IMT experience in Coventry

What makes a good physician? In this Spotlight on local innovation blog, resident doctors Dr Stephanie Harding, Dr Rachael D’Silva, Dr Faiz Shaikh, Dr Katharine Cass and Dr Akshay Balaji at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire explain that it is not just individual clinical competence, but being supported by systems that foster preparedness, confidence, safety and continuous development.
Blog
07/05/26
MM

Spotlight on local innovation – supporting consistent consultant practice to improve patient flow

Improving patient flow, reducing waiting times and delivering better value remain major challenges for the NHS. In this Spotlight on local innovation blog, Dr Babar Muhammad Munir FRCP, consultant physician and endocrinologist at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, reflects on how local experience shows that the way consultant‑level decision making is supported can have a significant impact on outcomes.
Blog
02/04/26
Doctor with patient (1)

When is a story not a story? When it’s evidence

Patients’ experiences sit at the heart of medicine, yet healthcare often struggles with how to value them. In this blog, Maya Anaokar, a member of the Patient Carer Network at the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), reflects on why patients’ accounts of illness are so often treated as ‘stories’ rather than evidence and why recognising patient evidence matters for trust, safety and care quality.
Blog
31/03/26
Doctor And Patient Holding Hands

Why physicians need to talk about dying

The latest issue of Future Healthcare Journal has been guested edited by author, physician and campaigner Dr Kathryn Mannix. Here, she reflects on what a career in palliative medicine has taught her about dying, why it should never be seen as a medical failure, and why all physicians, regardless of specialty, need the confidence to talk more openly and earlier with patients about the final phase of life.
Blog
17/03/26
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Growing the medical workforce: why the expansion of training places must be matched with investment in people and infrastructure

In a blog based on their recent article for Clinical Medicine (ClinMed), Dr Michael Batavanis, Dr Anmol Arora, Dr Samuel Aryee and Dr Nisha Nathwani reflect on what a national survey of directors of medical education reveals about the realities of expanding medical training in England.
Blog
10/03/26
720 500 Px

Postgraduate training, prioritisation and Pollock

In our latest RCP next generation blog, Naabil Khan, RCP student and foundation doctor representative for the South West and a medical student at the University of Exeter, writes about what she learned from attending a recent debate on the future of medical training.
Blog
08/03/26
Mumtaz Patel And IWD Team

Leadership looks like her: Celebrating the women shaping the RCP and NHS

Women remain underrepresented in senior medical leadership, despite making up the majority of the NHS workforce. As the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) marks International Women’s Day (IWD) and prepares to open applications to its Emerging Women Leaders (EWL) Programme, past and present delegates reflect on the value of representation, the barriers that persist and the leadership qualities that women bring to healthcare today.
Blog
18/02/26
Burger

Ultra-processed and under-regulated: why ultra-processed foods lack regulation despite evidence of harm

Ultra‑processed foods (UPFs) now account for almost half of the daily calorie intake in many countries, and children are among the highest consumers. Yet despite growing evidence linking UPFs to long‑term health harm, regulation continues to lag.