Professor Tom Solomon CBE FRCP FMedSci

The RCP needs a fresh start. After a terrible 18 months dominated by the Physician Associate crisis, caused by poor leadership, governance, and culture (according to The King’s Fund report), we need a new style of leadership. I was an elected councillor (2019-22), and censor (2022-24), and so understand how the college works, and what needs changing. But I was not part of the senior leadership team until I became Academic Vice President (responsible for the Communications, Policy and Research Directorate) in August 2024; this was after the Extraordinary General Meeting about Physician Associates and after the last president resigned. Since then, I have helped the College disengage from the Physician Associate programme, implement a governance review and focus on the next generation of physicians.  However, we need to do much more than this. 

 

My vision is for a modernised fit-for-purpose RCP at the forefront of education and training, influencing government and other stakeholders to improve health services and patient care. 

 

If elected, I will:

 

          1. streamline activities to make the RCP more efficient, effective and open (e.g. through open council meetings)

 

          2.focus on issues prioritised by fellows and members, capturing their views through a wide-ranging engagement programme.

 

          3. fight to ensure the government delivers on the long-term workforce plan, and push for improved working conditions for consultants, specialty and associate specialist, locally employed and resident doctors (e.g. through a complete review of training)

 

          4. strengthen our offer to international members and fellows (having lived and worked in Asia, Africa, and America I have some understanding of their needs)

 

          5. re-establish the RCP’s reputation as a credible voice on healthcare issues.

 

The college has an essential role to play with AI and digital, different care models, and broader issues like health inequalities and climate change. I have considerable experience, e.g. at RCP I lead a new initiative on AI, and at the Academy of Medical Sciences I led climate change, and global health inequalities programmes.

 

I am a neurologist in Liverpool, working in secondary and tertiary care, researching neurological and emerging infections. I co-developed the UK’s largest neurological infection service, and led the development of national guidelines improving service delivery and patient outcomes.

 

I have extensive senior leadership experience, outside the RCP:

 

          - I have a proven track record in organisational change (e.g. at Liverpool University), and managing large budgets under tight financial constraints; for example, as founding Director of the Institute of Infection and Global Health, I managed an annual £10 million budget and achieved year on year growth. 

 

          - I led on equality diversity and inclusion at my University.

 

          - I know how to work with and influence governments – e.g. as Director of The Pandemic Institute, and NIHR Emerging Infections Unit,  I have sat on SAGE, given evidence to House of Commons Select Committees, advised ministers, MPs, senior civil servants, DHSC and NHS England.

 

          - I have proven communication skills including TV (BBC Question Time, Newsnight, Breakfast); Radio (Radio 4’s Today, The World Tonight); newspapers (Guardian, Times, Sunday Times).

 

          - I know how to use social media effectively (my X, Instagram, YouTube and Podcasts have >6 million views/downloads).

 

 

*​The Election Statement above is the same as my official election statement, with a few minor modifications.

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Click here for the Social Media Principles and Code of Conduct for the RCP 2025 Presidential Elections.