FAQs
What is the College of Medicine?
The College of Medicine is a professional institution that brings doctors and all healthcare professionals together with scientists and patients. That makes it a powerful alliance of all those concerned with medicine.
What are its aims?
The College of Medicine unapologetically puts patients first. Not individual professions, specialities or specific forms of treatment: simply patients and their needs for appropriate diagnosis, therapy and - above all and at all times - care. It aims to ensure that the patient is at the centre of medicine and of all healthcare policies and systems. A key element is empowering patients, both in terms of their personal care and as partners in the planning and delivery of NHS services.
Why is it needed?
Good healthcare depends on teams, not on any single profession. There is a need for a professional body that does the same instead of separating clinicians and others into their individual tribes.
It is also needed because modern medicine and healthcare are in danger of losing the traditional values of compassion, caring and simple kindness. Thanks to advances in scientific medicine, we can now treat many diseases that once would have been fatal. But we are losing the ability to care for the patient.
Who can join?
Those eligible for full, clinical membership of the College are statutorily registered health professionals, including doctors, nurses and midwives, pharmacists, osteopaths and professions regulated by the Health Professions Council.
Qualified scientists working in fields relevant to medicine and healthcare can join as scientist members.
Students pursuing a UK degree or diploma in a clinical subject can join the College’s student network.
Patients and the public will be able to join the College’s Patients’ Panel from early 2011.
Certain complementary medicine practitioners can join as Associates subject to confirmation of training, safe practice, professional indemnity insurance and other essential requirements.
How much does membership cost?
Currently £200 for clinicians. For associate members it costs £35 - plus an optional £50 for use of the COMLIS library service. More types of membership will become available soon.
What does the College do?
The College works to ensure that patients are:
• at the heart of medicine and healthcare;
• enabled and empowered to look after their own health and to self-care.
It does this through education, information services, campaigning and, where possible, supporting others with the same aim. Its focus is on:
• supporting frontline clinicians
• persuading decision makers to adopt patient-centred policies and strategies.
Who leads the College?
The President of the College of Medicine is Sir Graeme Catto. He is supported by Vice-presidents Sir Ian Kennedy and Dr Harry Brünjes.
The Chairman of Council is Dr Michael Dixon. Vice-chair is Professor George Lewith.
Learn about our Officers here.
How is the College organised?
Like similar institutions, the College has a Governing Council – of twenty six members – which includes representatives of all groups entitled to membership. This is supported by an Advisory Council whose members are distinguished and eminent individuals from medicine, related fields and politics.
The College’s Patients’ Council and Science Council are central to everything it does.
What faculties does the College have?
There are currently three faculties, with a fourth due to be launched early 2011.
• the Faculty for Self-Care is concerned with encouraging and enabling patients with long term conditions to look after – and improve – their own health as far as possible.
• the Homeless Health Faculty is focused on the needs of this most vulnerable group who generally present with tri-morbidity: physical and mental health problems with alcohol and substance misuse.
• the Faculty for Women’s Health is particularly interested in education for both professionals and patients in improving integrated healthcare for women.
• from 2011, the Faculty for Neuro-musculoskeletal Care, which has a special interest in the management of chronic pain.
What are the College’s views on integrated medicine and CAM?
The College’s focus is entirely on the needs of patients. This includes the provision of care that is integrated across primary, community and secondary NHS services, and across health and social care.
The College is neither pro nor anti-complementary medicine. It is pro good medicine.
In some circumstances and for some patients, good medicine may include integrating evidence based complementary treatments with conventional care.
Why does the College allow membership to CAM practitioners?
The College offers Associate membership to some CAM practitioners, subject to the College’s standard vetting procedures which include checks on training and safe practice.
It is keen to encourage and enable safe practice by all those who treat the public. Many millions of people in the UK consult CAM practitioners without telling their doctors. It is crucial that these therapists practice safely and understand the symptoms that mean they should advise people to seek medical diagnosis and advice.
Doesn't that mean you are conferring unwarranted respectability on them that they don't deserve?
No. It means we are putting the interests of patients and the public before the interests of professionals.