In this update, RCPCH President, Steve Turner, brings together the latest news, opportunities and developments shaped by and for RCPCH members. From new ways to get involved and influence the profession, to policy updates, digital resources and upcoming events, it reflects the breadth of support and collaboration across our growing community. Explore what’s new, what’s changing, and how you can make the most of your membership.
It is a healthy sign for a membership organisation to have our 4-5% year-on-year growth. We continue to review, reflect and respond to changing member needs, mindful that needs can differ between membership groups. Over the ten years I have been a College Officer, I have consistently seen members wanting the College to advocate for children and young people, and to help them provide the best standard of care for their patients. I have also seen members increasingly seek support to achieve a better work-life balance. Our international members contribute 22% of our overall membership and are particularly grateful for the training and professional support they receive. I discussed these with our international Officer Deepak Ugra, the President of the Indian Association of Paediatrics and members from Sri Lanka and Nepal at the PEDICON meeting in Kolkata 17-19 Jan. We also talked about the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill; members who are International Medical Graduates might find this briefing on our website helpful.
Our membership survey will be with you in the coming months and is a great opportunity for you to let the College know what you want. Unlike the 1964 BPA survey, the 2026 survey will be online. But it would be great to get the 70% response they got back then (233 of the 336 membership)!
#WDYCD4U – Digital Health Hub
We’re pleased to have launched our Digital Health Hub, a platform exclusive to RCPCH members to access a catalogue of digital solutions, practical learning pathways and expert guidance. Our first resource, the Digital Solutions Catalogue, is now available to search, with more coming later this year. We always appreciate your feedback and thoughts, and, as this is a new platform, it’s never been more important to tell us about your experience so we can refine the details. I encourage all members to explore as much as you can and give your honest feedback.
Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill
Earlier this month, the UK Government published the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill. This aims to prioritise UK medical graduates for medical specialty training. Our member briefing sets out the measures in the Bill in more detail. The College recognises the exceptional pressures currently facing medical training in the UK and continues to work with NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care to support fair solutions that strengthen the paediatric workforce.
Online Harms
I recently joined other Royal College President’s in a letter to government ministers setting out concerns frontline clinicians have on the impact of tech and devices on children’s health in the UK. The issue has dominated the political agenda in recent weeks, and the UK Government has recently announced two reviews relevant to our work. The first of these, chaired by former RCPCH President Russell Viner, will investigate under-5s' social media use while the other will explore policy options to address screen time use for children aged 5 – 16. The College is now scoping its policy work in this area.
First 1,000 Days Inquiry
Last week saw the publication of the Health and Social Care Committee’s report into the first 1,000 days of life. We gave oral evidence to the inquiry last year on pressures in community paediatric services and falling vaccination rates, and the report sets out a range of recommendations to improve outcomes for young children. As we await the Government’s 10‑year workforce plan this spring, it’s particularly encouraging to see MPs back our calls for greater paediatric workforce investment and a dedicated child health workforce strategy. If you missed it, our Officer for Health Improvement, Dr Helen Stewart, spoke on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme (00.49.00) last week about why we also welcome the report’s focus on strengthening the health visiting workforce and their vital role in improving childhood vaccination uptake.
New College Role opportunities
Our latest round of volunteer roles offers you the chance to make a real impact on your profession and the future of child health. Whether you’re interested in shaping training and quality standards, representing peers in your nation or region, or contributing your expertise to research, education, examinations and specialty advisory committees, there’s something for every career stage. Volunteering helps you expand your professional network, build leadership skills, influence key areas of paediatric practice, and give back to the community that supports you every day. Take a look at all the available roles.
Upcoming Events
St David’s Day Conference | 26 February | Cardiff
Come together in the heart of Wales for this fantastic community-centred conference, packed with practical, high-impact sessions that improve training, clinical confidence and career development. There’s still time to register, but I’d act fast as it’s right around the corner!
Yorkshire Paediatric Society Meeting | 30 April | Leeds
The YPS was a ‘learned society’ of paediatricians from across Yorkshire that met regularly for many decades, offering academic discussion, case presentations and social networking. They’re now relaunching, and this inaugural meeting is open to all Paediatric clinicians in Yorkshire and Humber, including residents. I have the privilege of giving a talk on Facing the Future Together. Find out more, I hope to see you there!
RCPCH Conference 2026 | 11-13 May | Birmingham
Early bird tickets are now available for the annual RCPCH Conference. As the College is celebrating its 30th anniversary, this conference promises to be a special event with fantastic keynote speakers, presentations, posters and workshops on a wide range of child health topics. If you can’t make it in-person, you can also attend sessions online, from anywhere in the world. Explore the programme and secure your early bird tickets.
In case you missed it...
We’re so proud to launch the new RCPCH Help Centre to respond to online enquiries/ queries and enhance your membership experience. This new resource is part of the College’s ongoing commitment to improve and invest in our services to support you and other esteemed members of RCPCH. You’ll hear more about this exciting venture very shortly.
Steve
This message was emailed to all RCPCH members who are opted in to receive College updates / professional updates. You can update your contact preferences at any time - log in to your RCPCH online account, go to My account | Your contact preferences, then make sure you've ticked College updates / professional updates.