RCPE Governance Review - Regulations

Why are these changes happening?

In 2024 a series of changes to the Laws and Charter were proposed to strengthen the College’s governance. This included the introduction of a Board of Trustees (including members of Council) to act as the governing body with general control and management of the administration of the College, allowing Council to continue to focus on the oversight of all clinical, professional and health policy matters affecting Fellows, Members and the profession more widely. 

Many Fellows and Members contributed to the consultation about these changes, and we are very grateful to everyone who took the time to engage in that process. These changes were approved in September 2024.

Following that governance review, and subsequent approval of the new Royal Charter by His Majesty the King on 6th May 2025 , it was recognised and accepted that there would need to be a set of “Regulations” subordinate to the Laws. The Laws set out the framework and core requirements of the College as mandated by the Charter, whereas the Regulations provide the procedural and operational details.

Law 5.15.3.1 provides that:

The Board of Trustees, having first consulted with Council, may by resolution from time to time make, alter and repeal such Regulations (however called) as it may think fit for regulating generally the affairs of the College provided that such Regulations are not contrary to the Charter of the Laws.

Time did not allow for the creation of Regulations to be completed at the same time as the governance review, and it was agreed that it would be done once the changes to Charter and Laws were approved and effective. 

A working group, chaired by Dr Lesley Dawson, Secretary, has completed a first draft of the Regulations and consequential amendments to the Laws.

Broadly, the current Annexes to the Laws form the basis of the new Regulations. 

How can you get involved?

We are now asking for feedback from Fellows and Members on the amended Laws and new Regulations. 

You can download below:

• The draft of the proposed Laws and Regulations
• The current Laws for reference
• A tracking document describing the proposed changes to the current Laws, signposts where and why items have moved, and listing some of the future projects planned.

This feedback period is open for the next four weeks. Please send any questions, thoughts or comments to Louise Hamilton, Governance Officer l.hamilton@rcpe.ac.uk by Wednesday 6th May 2026.

What happens next?

Once feedback has been sought, a final draft will be presented to the Board of Trustees.

If approved by the Board, it is intended that the removal of the Annexes from the Laws into the Regulations will be an amendment to the Laws presented to Fellows and Members for approval at an Extraordinary Meeting in June.  

At that meeting, any consequential changes to the Laws will also be proposed to Fellows and Members. 

Following approval by Fellows and Members, Trustees will have the power to change the Regulations, subject to consultation with Council. Changes to the Laws will still require the approval of the Members at a General Meeting.

Please send any feedback to Louise Hamilton, Governance Officer l.hamilton@rcpe.ac.uk by Wednesday 6th May 2026.