Welcome to the February bulletin. It’s been a busy start to the year and I was glad to get a bit of downtime over half term. I hope you’ve also had an opportunity to rest and recharge since the start of the year.
We’re making good progress on the new RCP strategy and plan to launch it this spring. Thank you to everyone who participated in the consultation and contributed to its development.
Shape our policy priorities
I’d like to personally encourage you to take a few minutes to complete our campaign priorities survey before it closes next week. We want your insights and experiences to shape everything we do at the RCP, including the issues we raise with government, the NHS, parliament and the media.
Amplifying your voice is also a key priority for our wider RCP strategy. This is your opportunity to influence our work directly, and we are grateful for every response. Please take 10 minutes to share your views before the survey closes on 6 March at 11:59pm.
Influencing the 10 Year Workforce Plan
Later this year, we are expecting the government to publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan. The government has said it will take a ‘decidedly different approach’ to this.
In September last year, we were successful in securing a public consultation after we coordinated an open letter to the health secretary, signed by over 70 other health and care organisations, calling for meaningful consultation on the plan. Our consultation response set out the unique role of physicians, calling for investment in the medical workforce, expansion of postgraduate medical specialty places to meet population demand, and for royal colleges to be involved in the plan’s development, including testing the assumptions underpinning workforce modelling. We expressed concern at the 10 Year Health Plan suggestion that staff numbers in 2035 will be lower than projected in the 2023 plan: we need to see the evidence underpinning this. We also called for a regular refresh every 2 years and the necessary funding to deliver the plan’s commitments. We have reiterated these messages in meetings with senior officials at DHSC and at DHSC-run engagement forums, and have worked with MPs to ask questions about the plan on the parliamentary record. We will continue to raise these issues with parliamentarians and in ongoing engagement with DHSC and look forward to seeing the plan published in full.
Postgraduate Medical Training Review phase 2
I am delighted that Professor Dame Jane Dacre has been appointed as chair for the second phase of the National Postgraduate Medical Training Review. As part of phase 2 evidence gathering (the solution phase), we are holding four RCP internal focus groups for our Council and career-stage committee members so fellows and members can inform our response to the consultation. I will be attending the first of the NHS England strategic planning meetings in a few weeks and we will continue to influence and support the agenda for our next generation priorities.
On Wednesday, the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill passed third reading in the House of Lords, meaning it will now progress to royal assent and become law. This means that UK medical graduates will be prioritised for offers made in 2026. From 2027 onwards, those with significant experience of working as a doctor in the NHS will be prioritised alongside UK graduates. The RCP will continue to support our international medical graduates (IMGs) to ensure they are valued and properly supported. There will be further legislation to determine what ‘significant experience’ means and the RCP will continue to push government to set out how it will work with the health sector on that definition so it is fair, as well as a timeline for getting this done so there is clarity for all.
Elections – voting opens next week
Voting in the RCP elections will open on 2 March until 30 March. Find out who is standing as a candidate for senior censor and vice president for education and training (VPET) and four councillor positions. For the first time, collegiate members will be able to vote, an important step in broadening participation in the college’s governance. I strongly encourage all eligible fellows and collegiate members to take part and have their say in shaping the future leadership of the RCP.
Meeting IMT doctors
I recently hosted a Meet your president session with doctors in internal medicine training from across the UK. We had an open and wide-ranging discussion about training, career progression and the future physician workforce. These conversations are an important way for me to hear directly from you, and to ensure that your experiences and concerns shape our work, from influencing national policy to improving training and support.
Cardiometabolic disease prevention summit
It was a pleasure to attend and present at the second of our cardiometabolic disease prevention summits earlier this week. It brought together clinicians from primary and secondary care to explore how we can make cardiometabolic care more practical, fair and effective. The summit highlighted the modern service framework, women’s health, patient stories, innovative services and the smart use of digital tools to help shape better prevention throughout the life course. Grateful thanks to the organising team, which included RCP clinical vice president Dr Hilary Williams, RCP censor Dr Anita Banerjee and Professor Andrew Krentz (the latter two pictured with me).
Maternal health and obesity
Earlier this month we published the RCP’s policy position on maternal health and obesity, which prompted widespread national media coverage and helped drive a broader public conversation about the risks of obesity in pregnancy. Led by our special adviser on obesity Dr Kath McCullough, and developed with input from physicians, obstetricians and colleagues across the medical royal colleges, the position statement sets out the scale of the challenge and the urgent need for coordinated, system-wide action. It makes clear that prevention, equity and compassionate, non-stigmatising care must be central to improving outcomes.
This week, Kath gave evidence to the House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee as part of its inquiry into food and weight management. She reinforced the need to prioritise prevention of obesity and overweight, ensure that the NHS workforce is properly resourced, and improve patient access to a range of effective treatment options.
Trust visits and regional updates
I enjoyed a trip to Coventry this week for my first trust visit of 2026, which was followed by our regional Update in medicine in Birmingham. It was great to meet so many of our members and fellows and hear directly from colleagues on the ground. It was wonderful to hear about the great projects that our associate college tutors and chief registrars are leading, which are making a huge impact in improving our resident doctors' experience. Thanks to our college tutors, regional advisers and teams, who were instrumental in organising everything so well.
Wider engagement
Earlier this month I spoke at the Cambridge University Medical Law Society on equity in healthcare, which was followed by a thoughtful and engaged discussion. I also joined the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations for a virtual fireside chat, where I reflected on my leadership journey and the challenges I’ve navigated. These themes continued in an In conversation with webinar for the Medical Women’s Federation alongside their president Professor Dame Jane Dacre. Each of these engagements offered valuable opportunities to connect with colleagues and students, and to share and learn from different perspectives.
Global conferences
It was a privilege to attend and present at the Qatar Health Congress in Doha, where I delivered a plenary session on ‘Physicians for the future – UK and global perspectives’ and spoke on lupus nephritis.
I then travelled to Lahore to take part in the 7th Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine (PSIM) annual conference, where I led a workshop on women in healthcare leadership alongside other plenary sessions.
It was particularly encouraging to reconnect with participants from the first cohort of the RCP Global Women Leaders Programme and to meet new delegates, pictured. These visits continue to reinforce the strength of our international community and the shared challenges and opportunities across healthcare systems.
My thanks to Dr Abdel-Nasser Elzouki and Dr Mohamed Salem Khalil from the Hamad Medical Corporation, pictured with Professor Hany Eteiba, president of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and Professor Andy Elder, president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and to their colleagues in Qatar for their warm welcome and excellent organisation, and also to PSIM president Dr Aftab Mohsin, senior vice president Dr Somia Iqtadar and immediate past president Professor Akram for their generous hospitality and support.
And finally
Earlier this month, we welcomed new members at our most recent ceremony. It was a pleasure to meet many of you alongside your families, including, I think, our youngest ever attendee! Here I am with Dr Shahzad Akbar and his children, who all looked extremely proud of their father. Moments like these are a reminder of the strength and continuity of our community.
As we look ahead, I would like to extend my thanks and best wishes to Professor Andy Elder, who completes his term as president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh at the end of this month.
Finally, as we enter a period of reflection for many, with Ramadan and Lent overlapping this year, I hope the coming weeks bring a sense of support, solidarity and compassion to all who are observing.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support.