Professor Kamila Hawthorne argues medical royal colleges deliver essential behind-the-scenes work but lack proper recognition and resources from government.
Royal medical colleges offer vital support to a changing NHS but remain an “undervalued asset” that operates largely unseen by members and receives inadequate resources, according to Professor Kamila Hawthorne and colleagues.
The former Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners made the claim in a recent statement highlighting how much of the colleges’ work happens behind the scenes, away from public view.
The Hidden Work of Medical Colleges
Hawthorne, who served as RCGP Chair from 2022 to 2025 even as holding her position as Professor of Clinical Diabetes at Swansea University, has consistently advocated for greater recognition of the role royal colleges play in supporting NHS services. The RCGP alone represents over 50,000 GPs and family doctors across the UK and internationally.
During her tenure, Hawthorne navigated multiple challenges including workforce shortages, debates over physician associates, and health inequalities. She regularly addressed pressures facing general practice, responding to NHS England data showing appointment challenges and staffing gaps.
The figures show the scale of general practice in England, with 40,567 fully qualified full-time equivalent GPs as of September 2024, delivering an average of 1.44 million appointment slots per working day.
Training and Standards Behind the Scenes
Royal colleges provide training programmes, set clinical standards, conduct research, and offer policy advice to the NHS. Yet this work often goes unnoticed by both college members and the wider public.
The RCGP has been especially vocal about workforce retention, calling for better integration of general practice into government plans like the 10 Year Health Plan. But Hawthorne’s comments suggest these professional bodies struggle to secure adequate government and NHS funding for their activities.
Some GP members have questioned college visibility and effectiveness, arguing for more direct member engagement despite the extensive behind-the-scenes work being carried out.
Government Priorities Under Scrutiny
The criticism comes as the NHS faces ongoing workforce crises across multiple specialties. Government and NHS England investments tend to focus on direct patient access measures rather than supporting the professional colleges that train and maintain standards for healthcare workers.
Kamila Hawthorne, reflecting on her experience, said the royal colleges deliver “a lot to offer a changing NHS” but remain poorly resourced despite their contributions to workforce development and clinical governance.
Her remarks highlight a tension between immediate healthcare delivery pressures and the longer-term infrastructure needed to support professional development and standards.
Source: @bmj_latest
Key Takeaways
- Royal medical colleges provide essential training and standards work that often goes unseen by members and the public
- Former RCGP Chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne argues these institutions are undervalued assets lacking proper government resources
- The debate reflects broader tensions between immediate NHS pressures and long-term professional development needs
What This Means for Kent Residents
Kent GPs operate under NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board and rely on RCGP training and standards amid local recruitment challenges similar to national trends. If royal colleges remain under-resourced, this could worsen GP shortages affecting appointment availability across Kent practices. Residents experiencing difficulty accessing GP services should continue using NHS 111 for urgent non-emergency care, as supporting calls for better professional development infrastructure that helps retain family doctors in the county.