A controversial proposal to change who sits on the RCGP board has been voted down by members, following concerns raised by GP leaders.
Last month, GP leaders spoke out against the proposal to change the structure of the college’s trustee board to add an additional non-GP member.
They raised concerns that this risked ‘shifting the balance of power away from duly elected GPs’ and argued that attempts to ‘weaken or reduce’ GPs’ voices on the board must be ‘challenged and rejected’.
At the time, the Doctors Association UK argued that the proposal needed to be rejected as there is ‘not enough GP representation’ on the board ‘as it is’.
At a meeting on Wednesday evening (13 November), RCGP members voted against the motion.
Former BMA GP registrars committee chair Dr Malinga Ratwatte, who voted against the motion, told Pulse that the college needs to focus ‘on rebuilding trust’ with its members, before it can move forward successfully with significant structural and governance changes.
He said: ‘Many members expressed their concerns about the proposed resolution and the impact that it would have in terms of diminishing the GP voice within the trustee board.
‘Whilst lay trustees are valued and bring enormous expertise to the college, there were important questions raised about the process by which this motion was brought, including whether views from elected GPs on council had been sought.
‘It’s clear that the college needs to focus on rebuilding trust with its members through increased transparency and engagement, before it can move forward successfully with significant structural and governance changes.’.
The trustee board is RCGP’s corporate board, comprising of 12 members – currently eight GPs and four independent – who are responsible for the management and administration of the college.
The RCGP said: ‘Members voted against Special Resolution 4 on the future composition of the trustee board and we will reflect on the discussions and consider next steps.’
