Reflections on the first year of the ‘new’ Clinical Oncology Faculty Board

The RCR introduced changes to its governance structures on 1 September 2023 to enhance its agility, responsiveness and decision-making. As I reflect on my time as Chair of the ‘new’ Clinical Oncology (CO) Faculty Board, I’m pleased to report on its successful first year as ‘the voice of the members’.

The Board met twice in 2023/24, receiving updates from the CO Faculty Leadership Team (COFLT) on progress against the Faculty’s strategic priorities. Our role is to ask questions, make suggestions and provide feedback to the COFLT to help the Faculty achieve its objectives and provide the best possible support to CO Fellows and members.

The CO Faculty Board has been hugely impressed by the enormous amount of work that the CO Faculty is undertaking. Here are some highlights from the year:

Workforce

The CO Faculty’s major focus for 2023/24 has been increasing the CO workforce. It has focused on promotional activities to inspire and attract medical students and those undertaking Foundation and Internal Medicine training to become clinical oncologists.

The CO Faculty Board encouraged a greater focus on consultants and senior trainees acting as role models for the next generation. We also highlighted concerns about the geographical differences in service provision in some parts of the UK and suggested that joint appointments might help to ease the situation in some areas. We further urged the RCR to continue its scrutiny of job plans for new posts, to ensure an appropriate allocation of programmed activities: avoiding too much travel between locations and adequate time for teaching, research and professional development more generally.

Be the Experts

Board members were delighted with the range and scope of work produced by the CO Faculty, which is testament to the hard work not only of the CO Officers but also of the many contributing Fellows and members. The CO Faculty’s professional guidance is of a very high quality and widely used both in the UK and globally.

We commended the RCR’s success in raising the profile of oncology in the UK, through engagement with government and other key stakeholders. We also acknowledged the development of artificial intelligence in cancer treatment. While Board members welcomed this direction of travel, they also urged a focus on equitable and safe implementation, and the need both to adapt the education of our trainees and ensure appropriate training of senior clinicians.

Professional Learning

We encouraged the RCR to prioritise professional learning, with more resources to support Fellows and members in delivering services such as palliative care and Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (including immunotherapy) as well as radiotherapy.

Membership Value

The CO Faculty Board recognised the importance of partnership working and welcomed the successful establishment of links with representatives of oncology Site Specialty Groups and Societies, and continued joint working with Medical Oncology.

Our College

It is essential to the operation of the RCR that Fellows and members are actively involved in its work and activities. We were therefore delighted that the CO Faculty filled all of its leadership roles and positions on boards and committees for the year ahead, and we appreciate the commitment of  members who contribute their time to the RCR.

My year as Chair has been both busy and rewarding, but it is clear that the RCR’s new governance arrangements are already bringing greater clarity and efficiency to the College’s business operations and decision-making processes. In concluding my term on the Board, I wish the members, my successor as Chair - Dr Caroline Brammer - and the CO Officer team all the best for the future.