Commentary

Commentary is the membership magazine of the RCP, delivering authoritative insight and opinion across a diverse range of subjects – including news, thought-provoking features of interest to clinicians and updates on the RCP's engagement with the wider physician community across the globe.

Start with the February welcome columns from Professor Ollie Minton and Professor Mumtaz Patel and scroll down for the full contents of this recent edition. Take our publications survey this month to help shape the future of the magazine and the RCP journals.

In conversation

Find all our interviews, opinion pieces, discussions between physicians and more

Meet the registrar and deputy registrar

Dr Omar Mustafa, RCP registrar, and Dr Ben Chadwick, deputy registrar, look back on 2025 in this Commentary interview. They give advice to young doctors starting out their career and offer valuable insight into their work within the RCP.

Interview

08/02/26

Health, illness and society: interview with an author

Dr Alexis Paton is director of the Centre for Health and Society at Aston University, where she is a senior lecturer in social epidemiology and the sociology of health. She is also the chair of the RCP's Committee on Ethical Issues in Medicine and the lead for the social and psychological aspects of health curriculum for Aston Medical School. Her new book, Understanding health, illness and society: A patient-centred approach to healthcare, shows how social structures and social norms shape both individual and collective health.

Interview

08/02/26

‘Investing in your own people’: how chief registrars benefit a hospital

The RCP Chief Registrar Programme is a flagship scheme which develops future medicalleaders. Commentary learns about how, in the last 10 years, this new role has been invaluable at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals (SWBH) NHS Trust, as they create the nextgeneration of medical leaders.

Features

Article

08/02/26

February welcome: Professor Mumtaz Patel

Welcome to the first 2026 edition of Commentary, the RCP's membership magazine. I hope you have all had a wonderful start to the year.

Article

08/02/26

Breaking the cycle: closing the gap in fracture care

Adults who sustain a bone break after minimal trauma often have life-changing loss of independence, persistent lower quality of life and increased mortality. Half of all adults aged 50 or over who break a bone after minimal trauma are at high risk of another fracture in the next few years.

Article

08/02/26

February welcome from Professor Ollie Minton

I am really pleased to take up the role of clinical editor and work with the wider team on Commentary and kick off 2026 with the February issue.

Article

08/02/26

Munk’s Roll in the 21st century: what is the nature and purpose of medical obituaries?

Dr Mark Weatherall FRCP shares the history and legacy of Munk's Roll – now Inspiring Physicians – the series of RCP obituaries or biographies of fellows, starting from 1518 to the present day.

Article

08/02/26

Commentary news round-up: February 2026

Since the last edition of Commentary in December, the RCP has been working to represent our members and support the work of physicians. Read our summary of the news from the last 2 months and the upcoming opportunities.

Article

08/02/26

Excellence in Patient Care Awards 2026: why your work deserves to be recognised and how to apply

Across the UK and beyond, RCP members / physicians and their teams are quietly delivering extraordinary improvements in patient care. From sustainability initiatives and service redesign, to tackling health inequalities, digital innovation and collaborative working across systems. This work is happening every day, transforming healthcare and the lives of patients, often without the recognition they deserve.

Article

08/02/26

Breakfast at the House of Lords: the power of prevention

In December, the RCP hosted its annual Peers’ breakfast at the House of Lords. The Peers’ breakfast gives the RCP the opportunity to bring together senior officers, special advisers and members of the House of Lords to discuss our members’ priorities.

Article

07/01/26

‘Systems are simply not built with complex needs in mind’: a spotlight on health inequalities and homelessness

Dr Pippa Medcalf, a consultant in acute medicine in Gloucester Hospital, explains why homeless patients face some of the greatest barriers to healthcare – while Amin Islam, deputy manager at a GP surgery in East London, illustrates these challenges. He shares his experience supporting patients with complex needs across primary and secondary care.  

Article

07/12/25

Celebrating milestones in RCP accreditation: 10 years of improving allergy services and 25 years of improving immunodeficiency services

Two of the RCP’s accreditation programmes – Improving Quality in Allergy Services (IQAS) and Quality in Primary Immunodeficiency Services (QPIDS) – marked their anniversaries at the RCP at Regent’s Park, London with a day of reflection, collaboration and celebration.

International

Hear about the work of RCP from across the globe.

International

08/02/26

An international exchange: the BIA-ECSACOP fellowship

Two young doctors share their experiences of taking part in the East, Central and Southern Africa College of Physicians and British Infection Association exchange. They share what they learned while working in Sheffield, UK and Zomba, Malawi – travelling, training and taking part in conferences in these two very different region

International

08/02/26

Rebuilding identity and establishing a career in the NHS: the power of proactive support and mentorship for international medical graduates displaced by conflict

Dr Mohammed Rashwan, a Palestinian doctor from Gaza currently working in London, and Dr Aicha Bouraoui, consultant rheumatologist, share what it means to be a displaced doctor – and how mentorship is vital for navigating the NHS.

International

07/12/25

A rewarding exchange: my journey as an external examiner in Bangladesh

Dr Seif Salem Al-Abri shares his experience of travelling to Dhaka, Bangladesh, as an external examiner on behalf of the RCP; from what he experienced in Bangladesh, to what he learned about the global mission of medical education.

You might be interested in

Medicine 2026

Join us at the RCP annual conference, Medicine 2026, a 2-day event dedicated to exploring transformative shifts in healthcare.

From hospital to community – the neighbourhood health service
From analogue to digital – the digital revolution in care delivery
From sickness to prevention – healthier, longer lives for everyone

Wednesday 13 – Thursday 14 May 2026 at the RCP at Regent’s Park and online.

Apply for the Excellence in Patient Care awards

We’re delighted to announce the return of the Excellence in Patient Care Awards in 2026. These awards celebrate the outstanding work of RCP members and fellows who are driving improvements in patient care across the UK and internationally. If you’ve led a project that has made a real difference to patients, this is your opportunity to celebrate your work.

Entries must be submitted by 16 February 2026.

Help us shape RCP publications – we’d love your thoughts

In 2026, we want to make sure that the RCP journals and Commentary magazine continue to feel useful, interesting and relevant to you. To help us ensure these publications meet your needs, we invite you to take a short 5-minute survey on engaging article formats and your reading habits. Your feedback will play an important role in shaping the future of RCP publications.

Commentary Hero Banner (Instagram Post (45))

Commentary is the membership magazine of the RCP which includes news from the RCP, thought-provoking features of interest to clinicians and updates on the engagement of the RCP with the wider community.

Visit this page to see the last year of articles.

To find out more about our articles or write for us, contact Commentary@rcp.ac.uk.