The RCP published a new 3-year strategy in January 2022 with three main priorities:
- educating physicians and supporting them to fulfil their potential
- improving health and care and leading the prevention of ill health across communities
- influencing the way that healthcare is designed and delivered.
These priorities reflect what the RCP understands its purpose to be in realising its vision, as the leading body for physicians in the UK and internationally, of a world in which everyone has the best possible health and healthcare.
Since its foundation in 1518, the RCP’s focus has been to improve patient care and reduce illness. We drive improvement in the diagnosis of disease, the care of individual patients and the health of the whole population.
We do this through educating and supporting our members and by setting clinical and educational standards and measuring against them. In doing so, the RCP influences policymakers and other stakeholders in the design and delivery of quality healthcare.
We also have a wider duty to raise awareness of preventable illnesses such as those caused by smoking, alcohol, obesity and air pollution and to highlight the health impacts of climate change. We promote evidence-based policies that tackle risk factors for disease to encourage good public health.
The RCP is a clinically led organisation. We work in partnership with our own Patient and Carer Network and other patient groups to achieve our aims and with various health organisations and other royal colleges to enhance the quality of medical care and promote research and innovation.
Our 2022-24 strategy was produced following consultation with the RCP’s membership and its many stakeholders. Its success will rely upon continued engagement with them as well as upon a commitment to diversity and inclusion, good governance and sustainability from throughout the organisation.