What the College does
The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) is a network
of doctors working in general practice who have the common aim of
promoting excellence in family medicine. It is also the only
academic organisation in the UK for GPs. Since its birth in 1952
the College has worked vigorously to establish general practice as
a discipline in its own right and promote the importance of family
medicine.
How the College works for General Practitioners?
The RCGP works to support doctors in general practice and
improve the quality of patient care by:
- representing the views of general practitioners on key
Government and Department of Health committees and working groups.
We are represented on many committees, groups etc established by
the Government or other organisations in the field of primary care
and on bodies established by other medical Royal Colleges. All
Members of the College are very welcome to assist in this work. For
information about College representation or about assisting with
this work please email honsec@rcgp.org.uk
- commenting on proposals issued by other bodies and
organisations as they affect general practice - such as from the
government and its agencies, the NHS, other medical Royal Colleges,
the GMC. For information about recent College comment or about
becoming involved in the comment process, please email honsec@rcgp.org.uk
- keeping its members up-to-date with the latest developments in
general practice through its publications, and the work of its committees,
working groups and networks.
- providing opportunities for doctors to network and share ideas
with others, mainly through its faculties (regional groups) and
email lists.
- acting as a forum for discussion of key medical and health
issues in primary care.
- developing policy and clinical guidelines for general medical
practice.
- setting standards of quality and clinical guidelines for
patient care.
- providing and assisting others with continuing education and
training.
- developing new qualifications and methods of assessment.
- seeking funding for a wide range of projects.
- awarding fellowships which enable doctors to carry out
research.
- publishing up-to-date research and innovations in general
practice.
- maintaining an authoritative voice which speaks effectively for
general practitioners.