interviews

24.10.18

RCP president on new Liverpool college building: ‘This will be a hub for clinicians in the north’

The president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has told NHE that the college’s new headquarters based in Liverpool will become a hub for clinicians in the north of the UK.

Professor Andrew Goddard, who took over from previous president Professor Jane Dacre last month, said the college’s new building – named ‘The Spine’ – will allow clinicians to travel to Merseyside to take a range of exams without the hassle of travelling to London, and signals the RCP’s intentions of moving away from London-centric operations with fellows.

“It acts as a hub for clinicians, members and fellows up in the north,” Prof Goddard said. “The big thing being said about the loss of morale in the NHS workforce at the moment is a lack of belonging, and so we’re quite keen that we try and foster that feeling of belonging to a group of like-minded people.

“This is an opportunity for us to build a purpose-built exams and assessment centre for the 21st century, and it won’t just be college exams we’re happy to host — other exams such as PLAB or the Faculty of Physicians Associates exams can be held there. It’s part of our raison d'être to be good at exams, and this sets that.”

Work officially began on the £35m building last week: based in the Knowledge Quarter at Paddington Village of the city, the 160,000 sq. ft building will be one of the healthiest workspaces for mental and physical wellbeing in the UK, and it is hoped that it will be among the first to achieve the international WELL standard of modern building design when it opens its doors in 2020.

Prof Goddard noted that the decision to create a northern HQ was indicative of the RCP’s “flag in the sand” to show fellows that it is not simply London-based.

“I’ve been working for the college since 2003 in various roles, and hearing the comment that the RCP is London-centric, or that it’s an ivory tower, that ‘you guys in your leather-bound chairs smoking your cigars don’t understand what it’s like in the real world’—well I can easily robust that.

“We’ve spent a lot of time and effort over the past five years developing our regional structures, making sure that we are more representative. One of the things that goes along with that is building our new site in Liverpool, and that is a key part of my four years as president and getting that up and running and working effectively, but that’s a clear flag in the sand to say that we are not just London-based.”

The Spine will boast an internal sky garden, complete with high-oxygen producing plants, a fine dining restaurant available for private hire, and under croft parking for 50 spaces featuring five electric charging points.

He added: “Fellowship is about meeting together, sharing ideas and so one of the purposes of RCP north is to provide that, and so also people don’t have to travel down to London.”

Enjoying NHE? Subscribe here to receive our weekly news updates or click here to receive a copy of the magazine!

Image credit: RCP

Comments

There are no comments. Why not be the first?

Add your comment

national health executive tv

more videos >

latest healthcare news

NHS England commits £30m to join up HR and staff rostering systems

09/09/2020NHS England commits £30m to join up HR and staff rostering systems

As NHS England looks to support new ways of working, it has launched a £30m contract tender for HR and staff rostering systems, seeking sup... more >
Gender equality in NHS leadership requires further progress

09/09/2020Gender equality in NHS leadership requires further progress

New research carried out by the University of Exeter, on behalf of NHS Confederation, has shown that more progress is still needed to achieve gen... more >
NHS Trust set for big savings in shift to digital patient letters

09/09/2020NHS Trust set for big savings in shift to digital patient letters

Up and down the country, NHS trusts are finding new and innovative ways to leverage the power of digital technologies. In Bradford, paper appoint... more >

the scalpel's daily blog

Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

28/08/2020Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive, NHS Employers & Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Confederation The common enemy of coronavirus united the public side by side with the NHS in a way that many had not seen in their lifetimes and for others evoked war-time memories. It was an image of defiance personified by the unforgettable N... more >
read more blog posts from 'the scalpel' >

comment

NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

23/09/2019NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

Reason to celebrate as NHS says watching rugby can be good for your mental health and wellbeing. As the best rugby players in the world repr... more >
Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

21/06/2019Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

Taking time to say thank you is one of the hidden pillars of a society. Being on the receiving end of some “thanks” can make communit... more >
Nurses named as least-appreciated public sector workers

13/06/2019Nurses named as least-appreciated public sector workers

Nurses have been named as the most under-appreciated public sector professionals as new research reveals how shockingly under-vauled our NHS, edu... more >
Creating the Cardigan integrated care centre

10/06/2019Creating the Cardigan integrated care centre

Peter Skitt, county director and commissioner for Ceredigion Hywel Dda University Health Board, looks ahead to the new integrated care centre bei... more >

last word

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad, president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), sits down with National Health Executive as part of our... more > more last word articles >

editor's comment

26/06/2020Adapting and Innovating

Matt Roberts, National Health Executive Editorial Lead. NHE May/June 2020 Edition We’ve been through so much as a health sector and a society in recent months with coronavirus and nothing can take away from the loss and difficulties that we’ve faced but it vital we also don’t disregard the amazing efforts we’v... read more >

health service focus

‘We are the NHS’: NHS England publish newest People Plan

30/07/2020‘We are the NHS’: NHS England publish newest People Plan

NHS England has published its People Plan for... more >
How NHS Property Services adapted to a new way of working

01/07/2020How NHS Property Services adapted to a new way of working

From May/June 2020 edition Trish Stephen... more >