The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has a long history of promoting public health through evidence-based policy. Physicians and medical professionals have a key role to play not only in managing ill health, but also in supporting people to live healthier lives.
What we are doing
The RCP is working with colleagues across the UK’s major health institutions to tackle public health challenges posed by air pollution, alcohol, obesity and tobacco.
Our policy position papers tell you what we think about those challenges and what we are doing to address them:
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please email policy@rcplondon.ac.uk.
What we have produced
The RCP urges the government to introduce a clean air bill for the 21st century that tackles the modern sources of air pollution.
The RCP believes the most effective way to reduce the harm from alcohol is to reduce its affordability, availability and attractiveness.
The RCP's goal is to prevent obesity-related ill-health by addressing the influences that lead to excess bodyweight throughout life.
The RCP wants the delivery of smoking cessation support to all smokers to be a core function of all healthcare activity.
This report provides an update on the use of harm reduction in tobacco smoking, particularly in relation to e-cigarettes.
This report from the RCP and the RCPCH examines the impact of exposure to air pollution across the course of a lifetime.
The RCP wants the UK to retain EU regulation on air quality and seek to continue implementation of its pollution reduction targets.
Simple changes to how health professionals procure and dispose of medical supplies can have a positive influence on societal health and wellbeing.
Breaking the fever: Sustainability and climate change in the NHS gives an overview of the impact of climate change on healthcare in the UK, and how physicians and the NHS can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Obesity is an increasing and costly public health problem which is not being addressed by current services or policy. This report confronts the issues, and sets out how the NHS should adapt to meet the demands of an increasingly obese nation.
