RCPI to embark on ‘major’ change programme

This process will lead “to a series of major changes to reporting relationships and committees across the College, its Faculties and Institute”, according to the College.

The “change programme”, which will take three years to implement, “will make RCPI a more effective, member-focused organisation with a renewed emphasis on our mission to train, educate and continuously develop doctors for current and future world health needs”.

The College said the changes will lead to enhanced financial, audit and risk management controls, more effective board and committee structures, and a strengthened focus on the needs of trainees, Members, Licentiates and Fellows.

A new Institute of Medicine as a training and professional body for internal medicine is planned.

It is also envisaged that the College will have “a more visible, active presence on training sites across Ireland so that we can provide a better, more accessible and supportive service to trainers and trainees”.

“The gradual, incremental expansion of the College has resulted in a number of issues, such as fragmented services and committees with overlapping remits,” stated the College. “We need to change in order to be the best possible College we can be. After a process of internal reflection and review, which included advice from an external agency, we have commenced the process of overhauling our governance structure to deliver the standard of service our members deserve and ensure all of our activities and committees are aligned with our mission.”

The Governance Oversight Group held its first meeting in December 2017 and agreed to prioritise training matters across work streams in early 2018.

This will include examining training-related committees and clinical roles across the College and commencing work on recruitment for the future lead clinician of the Institute of Medicine.