Royal colleges need modernisation

EDITOR—I was pleased to read of Professor Alberti's intention to modernise the Royal College of Physicians.1 The royal colleges generally are regarded by many of their fellows and members as too remote and run by elite councils heavily weighted with academics. There is an urgent need for the colleges to be run by councils composed of democratically elected councillors who have clearly defined medical parliamentary constituencies to which they are directly responsible. Fellows and members need to feel more directly involved in their colleges by having a meaningful vote in elections to their governing bodies.

Unless the colleges truly represent the views of all their fellows and members in the United Kingdom their important role in deciding the direction of the country's health care will inevitably be weakened. It may be further weakened in the future if specialist registrars, having completed their training and been recognised as specialists by the European Union, no longer see the need to join a college or contribute to its (generally) well filled coffers.