The next government must put patient safety at the heart of the continued Brexit negotiations and invest in the health and care workforce, public health and prevention, a capital programme and social care provision, says the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) in its manifesto for the General Elect

Only 13% of senior doctors’ posts in England were made in rural parts of the country, according to a UK-wide census of doctors conducted by the Royal College of Physicians of London, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

The #5minutesto census provides the three Royal Colleges of Physicians with essential data that we use to lobby for changes, such as additional consultant posts and medical student places.

RCP Cymru Wales has responded this week to the joint draft health and social care workforce strategy from Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) and Social Care Wales.

Response by Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians.

The three Royal Colleges of Physicians are calling on the consultant workforce to complete our Retirements 2019 survey.

The RCP has welcomed the publication of the Interim NHS People Plan, saying that this is a step in the right direction for the workforce. However, the Treasury must work to support NHS staff starting with addressing the current challenges around pensions.

90% of those responding to a poll conducted by the RCP witnessed colleagues going above and beyond their jobs last winter.

Care of patients with chronic lung conditions is improving but there are still significant deficiencies that need addressing, according to the world’s largest clinical audit of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) patients, run by the RCP.

Welsh hospitals are understaffed and overstretched. Over two-thirds of trainees report regular and frequent rota gaps, almost one-third of advertised consultant posts go unfilled, and absence due to sickness is rising.