Tamar Faculty
Welcome from Tamar Faculty, we support over 1,250 members, Fellows, Associates and GP registrars across Devon and Cornwall. The Faculty is a group of volunteer RCGP members who provide local networking, education and support for members in the area.
Latest Faculty updates
We are pleased to offer four funded spaces for the Principles of Primary Care course, delivered by the University of Exeter. For more details, please see the Awards and Prizes section below.
Introducing your new Tamar Faculty IMG Leads
Dr Nicole Nation is a familiar face to many in Torbay. A proud Jamaican and former trainee of the Torbay VTS scheme, she now works as a salaried GP at Chelston Hall. With a passion for mentoring and a calm dedication to wellbeing, photography, walking, and yoga all of which keeps her grounded. Nicole is the Near Peer Support Fellow for IMGs in Torbay. She brings invaluable insight from both sides of the training journey, with a focus on helping others thrive in a system that can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Dr Tochi Achonye
Dr Tochi Achonye, currently a GP registrar in Plymouth, brings a spirit of warmth, resilience, and deep empathy to his role. Originally trained in Nigeria, his UK journey has been shaped by the kindness and wisdom of fellow IMGs, and he’s now paying that forward. With a young family of his own, Tochi understands the balancing act many IMGs face. His vision is clear: to create a vibrant, connected, and supportive community where IMGs feel seen, supported, and celebrated.
Get involved
The RCGP Tamar Faculty recruitment
The RCGP Tamar Faculty recruitment are recruiting for a number of positions on their board.
Did you know that you can make even more of your membership by joining our community at a local level? Members of our Faculty Board have opportunities to network and connect with peers, develop personally and professionally and know they are supporting great doctors, providing great care – three incredible reasons to get involved.
Our Faculty board is made up of local GPs from Devon and Cornwall, meetings are four times a year, online, they are informal and friendly, they are a chance to meet and discuss matters of the day with peers and colleagues and input at a local level to decisions made by the RCGP Council. Additionally, there are also opportunities to meet in person at some of our in person events.
Some of the other benefits of being on the board include:
- Discount to RCGP Annual Conference
- Invitation to members summit at 30 Euston Square
- Input and suggest events and opportunities for local doctors
Current vacancies
- Deputy Council representative - Dr Nick Hodges represents the Tamar Faculty at four Council meetings per year, where he informs on the board views on Council papers. We are recruiting a deputy Council representative to attend when Nick is not available. To find our more email tamar@rcgp.org.uk
- Vice chair
- Faculty Climate and Sustainability Lead
- GP Registrar Committee member - Cornwall
We are looking for a GP registrar from Cornwall to join our group of GP registrars. We aim to bring information to our peers, and submit ideas on how the Tamar Faculty can support GP registrars around the region. This is an informal group and all are welcome. Please contact Alice Sefton at tamar@rcgp.org.uk for more information.
For more information and to apply for the roles, contact Alice Sefton.
Upcoming events
16 July 2025
Telephone consulting and triage skills
This online course will provide you with a real understanding of how to manage the risks involved in remote telephone consultations and the benefits this work can bring when...
17 July 2025
SCA cases and panel discussion (free preparation webinar)
Join us for the concluding instalment of our two-part series of FREE webinars on the SCA exam, led by esteemed professionals Dr Roger Neighbour, Dr Robin Simpson, and Dr Jim...
29 July 2025
Telephone consulting and triage skills
This online course will provide you with a real understanding of how to manage the risks involved in remote telephone consultations and the benefits this work can bring when...
29 July 2025
GP registrar Hustings 2025
Join us to hear from the candidates standing to be the next GP registrar Chair on College Council.
Board meetings
The Faculty Board meet four times per year to discuss our local engagement activities and issues pertinent to our members, we then feed back to the College Council. Our Board meetings currently take place online giving equal access to as many members as possible. All local members are warmly invited to attend Board meetings and participate in these discussions.
Local training and development
Fellowship
December 2024
Fellowship is an honour and a mark of achievement recognising a significant contribution to health and welfare of the community, science or practice of medicine, and/or aims of RCGP, or any organisation which benefits general practice. Full details of applying for Fellowship can be found at RCGP Fellowship.
If you are unsure about any part of Fellowship or want to know more about the process please contact the Tamar Faculty for more information. The Faculty actively encourages its members of 5 years plus standing to consider putting themselves forward for Fellowship. We have a Faculty Fellowship Committee (FFC) within the Faculty, led by Dr Laura Sims, Chair of the Faculty Fellowship Committee. The FFC can offer advice and support through the Tamar Faculty office.
Awards and prizes
We host annual awards and prizes to celebrate and recognise innovation and excellence in general practice across the Tamar area.
The Kieran Sweeney Prize 2025
A national UK prize for medical writing by GPs
Awarded by The Tamar Faculty of the Royal College of General Practitioners.
The Tamar Faculty of the RCGP is proud to once again honour Dr Kieran Sweeney’s memory with a national prize of £1,000 for the best original submission from a practicing GP in response to the question: "Is the GP model for delivering Primary Care outdated for society in 2025?".
How to enter:
For more information contact the Faculty administrator.
Principles of Primary Care course funding
The RCGP Tamar Faculty are pleased to offer funding for four spaces (£250 per person) on the Principles of Primary Care CPD Course being run by the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter.
Course dates
Friday 25th April 2025 (full day, hybrid delivery)
For more information on the Principles of Primary Care course, visit the University of Exeter website.
Applicant Criteria
Active RCGP Tamar Faculty Member
Application process
Complete the funding application form. Applicants will be asked to write a paragraph explaining why this course would be beneficial to them. Applicants will need to book and pay for the course, provide the Faculty with proof of payment. The Faculty will refund the cost after the course, upon receiving a certificate of attendance.
What is Primary Care? What are its core principles? How does it deliver outstanding health outcomes?
Public Health and Primary Care are key to the delivery of healthcare for populations from birth to old age. Primary care is also the most efficient form of care and the chosen way to deliver health for all (WHO). But there is sometimes a lack of understanding about its core principles and the evidence behind its efficiency. Knowledge of these key principles may give practitioners a new sense of pride in what they do and for policymakers may demystify some of the hype around primary care and general practice.
This one-day course provides a unique insight into practical solutions to these issues and can help health professionals to make a meaningful impact in their communities – whether based in the UK or in other countries.
Course expertise
The course is delivered by internationally recognised practitioners and researchers. They have been key contributors towards defining what primary care is and providing the evidence that underpins it:
Professor Alex Harding, internationally recognised as a family practitioner, a highly regarded senior academic and researcher will lead the day with Dr Martyn Hewett, Experienced NHS GP and medical educator with a proven track record of leadership and innovation in healthcare and adult education.
You can read about the origins of the course in this article, 'How Exeter is helping to strengthen primary care expertise globally'.
Meet your faculty
Faculty Officers
- Dr Nick Hodges - Chair & Council Representative
- Dr Susanna Hill - Provost
- Dr Helen Stephens - Treasurer & Training Programme Representative
- Dr Richard Pratt - Vice Council Representative
Faculty Board Members
- Dr Jonathan White
- Dr Humera Sultan - Education Lead
- Dr Joanna Butterworth - Medical School representative
- Dr Judit Konya - Medical School representative, First5 Lead
- Mrs Fiona Cook - Practice Nurse Representative
- Professor Sir Denis Pereira Gray - Honorary Member
- Dr Deepthi Lavu - GP registrar Lead
- Dr Jenna Hussain - GP registrar committee member
- Dr Taha Khan – GP registrar committee member
- Dr Laura Sims - Faculty Fellowship Lead
- Dr Chris Campbell - Fellowship Committee member
- Dr Emilie Tindall - Foundation Doctor representative
- Dr Bajit Kalsi - Later Careers and Retired Members representative
- Dr Molly Parkinson - GP registrar committee member
- Lorena Muro Yu – Exeter GPSoc representative
- Aarti Sriram – Plymouth GPSoc representative
- Charlotte Grimminger – First5 Lead
- Tochukwu Achonye – GP registrar committee member and IMG Lead
Contact us
Telephone: 020 3188 7712
Email: tamar@rcgp.org.uk
Office opening hours: Monday: 09:30 - 16:30, Wednesday and Thursday: 09:00 - 15:30
Your local Faculty Administrator is Alice Sefton.
Follow us
(Approved by the College Council under Bye-Law 50)
Interpretation
1. The Interpretation Act 1978 applies to these Bye-Laws as to an Act of Parliament.
2. Words and phrases used in the Charter, Ordinances and Bye-Laws of the College mean the same in these Bye-Laws.
Faculty name
3. The name of the Faculty shall be the Tamar Faculty of the Royal College of General Practitioners (referred to in these Rules as "the Faculty").
Area of the Faculty
4. The area of the Faculty shall be Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Terms of Reference
5. The terms of reference of the Faculty are to further the College object in the area referred to in Bye-Law 4 of these Bye-Laws, subject to the Charter, Ordinances and Bye-Laws of the College.
Membership of the Faculty
6. The members of the Faculty shall be those members of the College practising or employed in the area referred to in Bye-Law 4 of these Bye-Laws or, if retired or otherwise not practising or employed, residing within that area. The Board may in addition permit the privileges of membership of the Faculty to be made available to members of the College not qualified for membership of the Faculty under the previous provisions of this Bye-Law.
Associateship of the Faculty
7. The associates of the Faculty shall be those associates of the College practising or employed in the area referred to in Bye-Law 4 of these Bye-Laws or, if retired or otherwise not practising or employed, residing within that area. The Board may in addition grant the privileges of associateship of the Faculty to individual associates of the College not qualified for associateship under the previous provisions of this Bye-Law. Associates may attend general meetings of the Faculty, but shall not be entitled to vote. All associates in training (AiTs) in good standing studying within the Faculty area shall be regarded as associates of the Faculty whilst still under training.
General meetings
8. (1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2), the Annual General Meeting of the Faculty shall be held once in each Faculty year (defined for this purpose as running from 1st November in one year to the next following 30th October) on a date and time decided by the Board. Notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be sent to all members and associates of the Faculty not less than 21 clear days before the meeting.
(2) The Board may, not less than 28 days before the date on which an Annual General Meeting of the Faculty is due to be held, resolve to dispense with the Annual General Meeting if it appears unlikely that a quorum will be obtained or that there are other good reasons for doings. Notice of the fact that the Annual General Meeting has been dispensed with shall be sent to all members and associates not less than 14 days before the date on which the Annual General Meeting would have been held. Where the Board has dispensed with the Annual General Meeting, the Board may take such decisions as could have been taken by the Annual General Meeting, and the provisions of these Bye-Laws shall apply as necessary.
9. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be:
(1) To approve the minutes of the previous general meeting;
(2) To receive the results of elections or nominations to the Board;
(3) To elect officers;
(4) To receive the Annual Report of the Board;
(5) To approve the Accounts of the Board for the preceding financial year to 31 March;
(6) Members' motions; and
(7) Such other business as the Chairman may allow.
10. Any 20 members of the Faculty may by requisition to the Chairman or Honorary Secretary demand that an Extraordinary General Meeting of the members of the Faculty be convened, on not less than 28 days' notice, for the purpose of considering any motion set out in the requisition.
11. The quorum of general meetings of the Faculty shall be 5. If within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the beginning of the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting shall be abandoned and, in the case of an Annual General Meeting, the Board may take such decisions as could have been reached by that meeting as if the meeting had been dispensed with under Bye-Law 8 of these Bye-Laws.
12. The Provost or other officer designated by the Board shall chair all general meetings of the Faculty. In the absence of both the Provost and the designated officer, any other officer designated by the Board to do so shall preside. In the absence of the Provost and any officer designated to preside, the members present at the meeting shall elect one of their number to chair the meeting.
13. The rules of debate at general meetings of the Faculty shall, subject to the discretion of the Chairman of the meeting, be those applicable to general meetings of the College, with the necessary adaptations.
14. All questions at general meetings of the Faculty shall be decided by a majority of the members present and eligible to vote. The Chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote, regardless of whether he or she has already voted.
Officers of the Faculty
15. The officers of the Faculty shall be a Provost, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer and such other officers as the Board shall decide from time to time. The term of office of the officers shall normally be up to 3 years.
16. The Chairman and Honorary Treasurer of the Board shall be elected by the members of the Faculty, in such manner as the Board shall decide, and every member shall be entitled to vote. No election need take place if only one candidate is duly nominated for any particular vacancy. If there is more than one nomination, the person with the most votes at AGM is appointed.
Faculty Board
17. The management of the affairs of the Faculty shall be vested in a Faculty Board (referred to as "the Board" in these Bye-Laws), which is empowered, subject to the provisions of the Charter, Ordinances and Bye-Laws of the College and any directions of the Council, to act on behalf of the College and the Faculty. The Board may regulate its own procedure, subject as previously stated.
18. The members of the Faculty Board shall consist of the Provost, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer, a representative each from practice nursing, practice management, and lay membership, a registrar member, locality representatives including members from Cornwall, Plymouth and area, North Devon, South Devon and Torbay, Exeter and East Devon, a postgraduate educational representative and a research representative from the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry.
19. The Board may appoint such committees or sub-committees for such purposes as it thinks fit.
20. The Board shall appoint College tutors for each locality. They will be co-opted to the Board if not already a member.
21. The Board and any of its committees or sub-committees may if the Chairman of the body concerned agrees meet wholly or partly by telephone or video conference, provided all members have been sent the papers for the meeting (including by electronic means). The quorum for meetings of the Board shall be 5.
Faculty representative(s) on College Council
22. The Board shall be responsible for nominating the Faculty representative(s) on the College Council. There shall also be a deputy Faculty representative. Both should be elected by the Faculty Board.
Accounts and financial arrangements
23. The Honorary Treasurer of the Faculty shall be responsible for drawing up the Accounts of the Faculty for the previous 12 months to 31 March, including a balance sheet and profit and loss account. The Accounts as so drawn up shall be sent to the Honorary Treasurer of the College, for inclusion in the Annual Financial Report of the College.
24. The banking account(s) of the Faculty shall be held at the Unity Trust Bank, or such other Bank as the Board may from time to time decide, subject to the approval of the Honorary Treasurer of the College. Appropriate procedures shall be put in place by the Board, subject to the approval of the Honorary Treasurer of the College, for authorisation of payments.
Amendment, revocation or re-making of Bye-Laws
25. These Bye-Laws may, subject to the approval of the College Council, be amended, revoked and re-made by resolution of the members of the Faculty in general meeting, passed by not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting.
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