RCGP to unveil new chair-elect this week after council hustings

By Nick Bostock on the 28 June 2016

RCGP council members are voting to decide who should replace current chair Dr Maureen Baker after candidates spoke at a hustings event over the weekend.

RCGP headquarters in Euston Square, London

Four candidates have put themselves forward to become the new RCGP chair from November when Dr Baker steps down after three years in the role.

Wiltshire GP and current RCGP vice chair for external affairs Dr Tim Ballard, Essex GP and RCGP council member Dr Sunil Gupta, London GP and RCGP council member Professor Martin Marshall and Lichfield GP and current RCGP treasurer Dr Helen Stokes Lampard are the candidates for the role.

The quartet addressed the RCGP council over the weekend, and council members are now voting to decide whom to support. Although council members are elected by the full RCGP membership, the chair is elected by the council alone.

RCGP chair election

The college expects to announce the result of the leadership election later this week. Find out below what each candidate has pledged to deliver, and read their supporting statements in full.

Key pledges from RCGP chair candidates
Dr Tim Ballard Making the college 'more relevant to and valued by' members Free access to all types of CPD for college members Develop a college-led professional quality scheme for practices to reduce current regulatory burden Dr Sunil Gupta Work to ensure GP Forward View pledges are implemented Ensure resources reach front line to enable GPs to work safe hours and improve patient safety Professor Martin Marshall Tackle GP crisis through ensuring rapid delivery of promised new funding Develop a 'comprehensive quality improvement offer' for RCGP members Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard Fight for general practice, rebuild professional self-respect Work to ensure 'substantially increased' funding and numbers of clinicians

Key pledges from RCGP chair candidates

Dr Tim Ballard

Making the college 'more relevant to and valued by' members
Free access to all types of CPD for college members
Develop a college-led professional quality scheme for practices to reduce current regulatory burden