Communities and groups

The College facilitates a number of communities and groups which bring together members, GPs and subject experts.

Membership communities

GP registrar community

The GP registrar community gives doctors training to be GPs a voice in the development of RCGP policy and initiatives.

First5 community

The First5 community gives newly qualified GPs a voice in the development of RCGP policy and initiatives.

Later career and retired members' community

The Later Career and Retired Members (LCARM) community is made up of elected LCARM faculty leads throughout the UK.

Special interest groups (SIGs)

Special interest groups (SIGs) serve as vibrant communities for healthcare professionals who share a common interest for areas within general practice. These groups are designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and knowledge sharing among members. 

Key features of RCGP special interest groups (SIGs)

Membership and collaboration: SIGs bring together GPs, trainees, and other healthcare professionals who are passionate about a particular subject. Members have the opportunity to collaborate, share best practices, and discuss emerging challenges and innovations within their area of interest.

Networking and learning: members of SIGs benefit from networking opportunities with like-minded professionals, which can lead to the development of new ideas, partnerships, and professional growth. 

The College has several long standing SIGs but if you are interested in setting up a SIG please fill in our SIG set-up request form.

SIGs

Adolescent health group

The RCGP Adolescent Health Group (AHG), since its inception in 1992, promotes the highest possible standards of health provision for young people in a changing world.

Creative health special interest group

The Creative health group welcomes GP advocates for creative health within general practice.

Health equity special interest group

The health equity special interest group has been established for over 10 years. It aims to ensure that achieving health equity for all remains a key area of policy and practice.

Health informatics group

The health informatics group advises the RCGP and other professional bodies on information management and technology in general practice.

Heritage SIG

The Heritage member interest group provides a forum for interested members to come together and guide us in our heritage work.

Learning disabilities group

This group has special interest in improving the care and outcomes for people with a learning disability. This is by sharing knowledge, learning and experience.

Neurodiversity special interest group (ND SIG)

Our primary aims are to improve education; to develop peer mentoring; to recognise and support neurodivergent patients, colleagues and trainees; and to advocate for policy and resources.

NHS pathways national clinical governance group

The national clinical governance group is a cross-collegiate evidence-based collection which quality improves 111 and 999 calls.

Nutrition and lifestyle special interest group

The nutrition and lifestyle special interest group provides a forum for GPs and practitioners who have an interest in nutrition and lifestyle to come together.

Occupational health group

The occupational health special interest group (OH SIG) is made up of GPs who work in or have an interest in occupational health and wellbeing for GPs and GP registrars.

Overdiagnosis group

The overdiagnosis group began in 2014 to explore and develop thinking around overdiagnosis. We're now over 300 strong and hope you will join us to improve thinking around overdiagnosis.

Prescribing and medicines optimisation group

This group brings together colleagues with an interest in prescribing medicines optimisation. This is a key issue in delivering high quality effective and safe general practice.

Rural Forum

The RCGP Rural Forum provides a forum for rural doctors and the wider practice team to come together and guide us in our work related to Rural Healthcare.

Secure environments group

The secure environments group is committed to the delivery of health care in the health and justice system to prisoners and detainees which is of the highest possible standards.

Urgent care special interest group

The urgent care special interest group provides a forum for GPs and practitioners who work in or have an interest in urgent care to come together.

Networks

Clinical advisers network

The clinical advisers network allows GPs to get involved: by using their knowledge, experience and expertise to influence clinical policy and practice. This is specifically done by contributing to the development of clinical policy, guidelines and quality standards. The opportunities, which are diverse and flexible, can range from contributing to individual consultations, to year-long commitments developing new guidelines.

Person-centred care network

We have appointed a Clinical Champion, a Clinical Support Fellow and seven Regional Clinical Leads to find out how person-centred care is making a difference across England. They are supported by an online Network of Champions open to clinicians passionate about delivering person-centred care in their practice and their region.

Person-Centred Care Network of Champions

This online network brings together GPs, primary care colleagues and people with lived experience across the four nations who share an enthusiasm for person-centred approaches to health and well-being. The network aims to:

  • promote person-centred care approaches in members' own localities
  • feed into national pieces of work (for example, through consultations) and be the RCGP's voice for person-centred care
  • meet twice per year to plan strategy, and explore good work being carried out across the country to highlight through the project.

For further information, please contact innovation@rcgp.org.uk.