News & opinion

Loading...

Filters

Vaping And Smoking

Beyond the Tobacco and Vapes Act: realising the smoke-free dividend

In a new article for Clinical Medicine (ClinMed), RCP special adviser on tobacco, Professor Sanjay Agrawal, explores why the next phase of tobacco control must focus not only on reducing overall smoking prevalence. Here he discusses why it’s so important to tackle the deep inequalities that continue to shape who smokes, who can quit and who experiences the greatest harm. Read Sanjay’s full article, Smoking, health and social justice, in Clinical Medicine.

Doctor And Patient Holding Hands

RCP survey reveals growing patient safety risks as care struggles to keep pace with rising numbers of patients with multiple long-term conditions

New data from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) reveals growing concern among physicians that NHS services are not keeping pace with the rising number of patients living with multiple long-term conditions, with two-thirds reporting they have seen poorer care or patient harm linked to fragmentation between specialties and services.

Person using tablet (1)

Going digital: our journey to JAG accreditation

Dr Rhodri Davies FRCP, clinical lead for endoscopy in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB), explains how digital resources, lean methodology and a shared commitment to improvement have helped his endoscopy team to secure Joint Advisory Group on gastrointestinal endoscopy (JAG) accreditation and develop an approach that could be adopted by other services.

Houses Of Parliament

'Physicians see the consequences over an overstretched social care system': RCP responds to Prime Minister's Speech at the Labour Party conference 2026

The Royal College of Physicians has responded to the Prime Minister's Labour Party conference speech in which he committed to establish a National Care Service.

Northampton RCP Visit Image

'People spoke positively about teamwork and inclusion': RCP president visits Northampton General Hospital

RCP president Professor Mumtaz Patel visited Northampton General Hospital last week to hear directly from consultants, resident doctors and senior leaders about the opportunities and challenges facing the medical workforce.

Hospital Corridor (1)

RCP Cymru Wales welcomes Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) report

The RCP has welcomed the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) Annual Report 2025–2026, published today. The report highlights the continued dedication of healthcare staff across Wales, while identifying persistent challenges including access to care, patient flow, workforce pressures, and the suitability of some healthcare environments that continue to affect the quality, safety and experience of care.

Doctors Working

RCP welcomes Health Foundation call for long-term workforce planning

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has welcomed a new report from the Health Foundation’s NHS Productivity Commission, which highlights the need for long-term workforce planning, improved retention and investment in training to support NHS productivity and patient care.

720 × 500 Px2 (1)

The next generation of specialists need time to become experts

Developing the next generation of medical specialists requires more than simply increasing training numbers, argues Professor David Sanders, president-elect of the British Society of Gastroenterology. He highlights the importance of giving doctors the time, support and opportunities they need to develop expertise, confidence and specialist skills, ensuring patients benefit from a highly skilled consultant workforce for decades to come.

Patient On Hospital Trolly

Hip fracture care shaped by where you live, latest national audit report finds

A patient's chances of surviving a hip fracture can depend more on the hospital where they are treated than their age, sex, ethnicity or socioeconomic background, according to a new National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD) report. It also highlights a need for more universal provision of care to be provided by fracture liaison services, calling on hospitals and other parts of the healthcare system to work more closely together to prevent secondary hip fractures.