Policy documents

Filters

Parliamentary briefing
09/10/26
RCP London Sign

Health Bill: House of Lords second reading

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has issued a briefing to peers ahead of the House of Lords second reading of the Health Bill. The Bill proposes substantial changes to NHS leadership, accountability and service planning. It would abolish NHS England, transfer functions to the secretary of state for health and social care and integrated care boards, establish a framework for a single patient record, change responsibility for specialised commissioning and move national patient-safety investigation functions into the Care Quality Commission.
Position statement
10/09/26
RCP View On Supporting Clinical Academic Careers Image

RCP view on supporting clinical academic careers

A new Royal College of Physicians (RCP) report warns that the UK’s clinical academic workforce is in sustained decline, and sets out 12 recommendations to support clinical academic careers and strengthen the future pipeline of doctors working across research and clinical settings.
Parliamentary briefing
04/06/26
Cigarette

Smoking, health and social justice

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has issued a briefing to MPs and peers on its new report on smoking, health and social justice. The report calls for urgent action to address the deep inequalities in tobacco use, including the introduction of universal, opt-out smoking cessation services across the NHS and a stronger focus on the social determinants of smoking.
Policy
06/05/26
Cigarette

Smoking, health and social justice

A new report from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) examines the effects of smoking that are increasingly concentrated among people already living in poverty, poor health and with social exclusion. It calls on the UK government to adopt opt-out treatment models across all NHS services.
Policy
01/05/26
Web Graphic 720 500Px

The RCP view on neighbourhood health: planned specialist care

A new Royal College of Physicians (RCP) report sets out its vision for the role of planned specialist care in neighbourhood health, calling for physician expertise to be embedded in integrated neighbourhood teams, with the capacity and capabilities to make the model work.
Consultation response
16/03/26
Air pollution

RCP responds to Environmental Audit Committee inquiry into air pollution in England

The Royal College of Physicians has urged the government to take a bold, cross government approach to tackling air pollution in its evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee, highlighting the tens of thousands of deaths and widening health inequalities linked to air pollution.
Consultation response
10/03/26
AI And Digital Strategy

RCP engagement with MHRA consultation on the regulation of AI in healthcare

As the NHS embarks on a digital transformation under the Government’s 10‑year health plan, the RCP is advocating for a robust regulatory system for AI that supports innovation while protecting patient safety.
Policy
04/03/26
Hospital Corridor (1)

Turning the tide: Supporting Northern Ireland’s physician workforce

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has published a new briefing report calling for urgent, system-wide action to stabilise and support Northern Ireland’s physician workforce, warning that without reform the health service risks losing a generation of future doctors.
Policy
04/03/26
Doctor And Patient Holding Hands

RCP work on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill and its progression through parliament

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has published a summary of its work on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill as it reaches the conclusion of the parliamentary process.