Â鶹Çø

The Â鶹Çø has a legacy stretching back over 500 years, dating back to its royal charter in 1518. In the past couple of years, with new challenges facing the NHS and its people, the Â鶹Çø has begun to explore how it could function more effectively, launching a thorough constitutional and governance review in consultation with fellows and members.

Our aim is to modernise and better align with what our fellows and members need from us, with a target to implement significant reforms ahead of our annual general meeting (AGM) in 2025.

We need to uphold the Â鶹Çø's legacy while preparing our college for future challenges – in this blog post, and those that follow, I will describe the process of constitutional and governance review and provide you with key updates from the constitutional and governance review group (CGRG) and Â鶹Çø Council.

The case for change

In September 2024, The King’s Fund published an that was commissioned by the Â鶹Çø  following an extraordinary general meeting of fellows earlier in the year. This important report points to the need for improvements in our culture, governance, processes and the way that we represent physicians of all generations. It calls for a more honest and open relationship with our membership, and one that welcomes constructive challenge rather than avoiding it. Â鶹Çø Council and its Board of Trustees accepted the report’s recommendations in full, a decision that was confirmed at the 2024 AGM. 

Recognising the importance of these recommendations, the Board of Trustees and Â鶹Çø Council have committed to modernising the Â鶹Çø’s constitution and governance. The work, which began immediately, will involve input from members, fellows, and other stakeholders, and will be implemented under the guidance of external experts.

Understanding how we work

The Â鶹Çø’s constitution is rooted in our royal charter (1518), various acts of parliament (in 1523, 1814, 1858, 1860, 1886, 1956 and 1960), and a set of bye-laws defining the organisation’s governance. We adhere to Charity Commission rules and regulations under charity law.

The Board of Trustees is the Â鶹Çø’s governing body. It is responsible for agreeing the business plan, monitoring the progress of Â鶹Çø affairs, ensuring effective management and administration. It can delegate charitable responsibilities to the Â鶹Çø boards and committees and works closely with Â鶹Çø Council.

Â鶹Çø Council develops policy in relation to professional and clinical matters. It gives authority to Â鶹Çø statements, publications and elections to the fellowship and membership, as well as of Â鶹Çø officers. It also considers and acts on current professional practice and standards issues.

The bye-laws establish the powers of the Â鶹Çø Council and Â鶹Çø’s officers, while additional guidelines – known as regulations or standard operating procedures (SOPs) – clarify specific aspects of operations.

• Constitution: The fundamental principles by which the Â鶹Çø is constituted and governed, set out in the royal charter and relevant legislation.
• Bye-laws: The rules governing how the Â鶹Çø conducts its activities and defining the powers of Â鶹Çø Council and officers. The last major revision was in 2020.
• Regulations and SOPs: Detailed instructions that clarify or supplement the bye-laws as necessary.

More information about Â鶹Çø governance is on our website.

How we will do it

Healthcare is ever changing, and so must we.

Our bye-laws have evolved over time – they need to continue to be relevant and effective, to help the Â鶹Çø support its fellows and members to deliver the best possible patient care.

In September 2024, Council agreed a ‘statement of intent’ to explore the following issues – which I also presented at the AGM the same day. We will:

1. develop clear aims and objectives to achieve modern governance using external expertise and with a respected champion from the physician community in leadership.
2. review the constituency of Â鶹Çø Council and our Board of Trustees to ensure appropriate representation of the membership and effective leadership.
3. review eligibility criteria for standing for president and vice presidencies.
4. explore widening voting rights across the membership (currently restricted to fellows).
5. improve how Â鶹Çø Council functions.
6. identify better mechanisms for the performance of senior officers and the president, including how to address challenges.

The table below provides examples of proposals for change and what this might involve. All of these proposed changes would need agreement to proceed from fellows.

The way forward 

Immediately after The King’s Fund released its report, the Â鶹Çø began work to deliver on its 10 recommendations. A comprehensive action plan is being developed, focused on leadership, management, culture, governance review, structure, processes and staff support.

Some changes will involve amending the current bye-laws, while others may require legislation to update the 1860 Medical Act. We hope to implement many of the proposed changes by the next AGM in September 2025, subject to wider consultation and engagement, with approval by Â鶹Çø Council, our wider fellowship and the Board of Trustees.

Some of the proposed changes will take longer, and are subject to external forces, including any changes to the royal charter or an Act of Parliament.

This reform phase marks a pivotal chapter in the Â鶹Çø’s rich history. The Â鶹Çø has evolved over centuries, and this current review offers a new chance to modernise the organisation for the modern day. As we chart this new course together, your input as fellows and members will be invaluable, ensuring that our governance structure best serves our patients’ needs.

I welcome feedback, comments and insights as we undertake this journey together. Please feel free to reach out at registrar@rcp.ac.uk. Stay tuned for further updates in future blog posts.