Our impact: July 2022 to December 2023

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has been working to improve women’s health and reproductive care for almost 95 years.

In this impact report we outline all the College has achieved in pursuit of this global mission between July 2022 and December 2023. Keep scrolling to read about our highlights.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has been working to improve women’s health and reproductive care for almost 95 years.

In this impact report we outline all the College has achieved in pursuit of this global mission between July 2022 and December 2023. Keep scrolling to read about our highlights.

An introduction from the President

Between July 2022 and December 2023, we have expanded our global community of obstetricians and gynaecologists and provided world-leading medical education. The College has also future-proofed obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) training by developing a new specialty curriculum. This will make sure our doctors continue to deliver the best possible care to women for years to come.

From initiatives supporting improvements in maternity care and successfully lobbying for the introduction of safe access zones around abortion clinics in England and Wales, to our Making Abortion Safe programme in Africa and delivering training in Egypt to combat female genital mutilation, the College has raised the profile of women’s healthcare and standards of professional practice globally.

We have also expanded our hub for women’s health organisations in our London Union Street office and are working to become a more sustainable organisation, whilst supporting our members to respond to the climate crisis and advocate for a healthier future for women and girls.

We simply could not achieve the impact you will read about in this report without our committed membership and every one of our 2,200 volunteers who support the College to deliver its vital work.

Ranee Thakar
President, RCOG

An introduction from the President

From initiatives supporting improvements in maternity care and successfully lobbying for the introduction of safe access zones around abortion clinics in England and Wales, to making abortion safe in Sub-Saharan Africa and delivering training in Egypt to combat female genital mutilation, the College has raised the profile of women’s healthcare and standards of professional practice globally.

We simply could not achieve the impact you will read about in this report without our committed membership and every one of our 2,200 volunteers who support the College in delivering its vital work.

Ranee Thakar
President, RCOG

A photo of a stained glass window with a title that reads: 'Highlights'

Transparent background of world map. Text on top reads: 'Membership of the College grew by 5% to a record high of 17,511 members across 125 countries'

Text on graphic reads: In the four years since we launched our current strategy, membership has increased by 15% overall

Text which reads: The College delivered more membership examinations than ever before, helping to improve education, training and standards of care globally.

Text which reads: Between July 2022 and December 2023, candidates sat 11,628 MRCOG Part 1 and Part 2 examinations in 62 countries, and 2,783 MRCOG Part 3 examinations.

Text which reads: The College published 15 pieces of new evidence-based guidance and patient information

Text which reads: Our world-class digital education platform, RCOG Learning, averaged over half a million page views in the month after launch,

Text which reads: with O&G doctors from 146 countries using the content to support them throughout their careers.

Text which reads: There are now 15 women’s health organisations working alongside each other at our London office

Text which reads: to achieve the shared mission of improving the health of women and girls in the UK and abroad.

Text which reads: The College successfully lobbied MPs and peers to introduce safe access zones around abortion clinics.

Text which reads: Our Making Abortion Safe programme has increased the knowledge of nearly 3000 healthcare professionals from around the world on safe abortion care.

Text which reads: The RCOG World Congress won the 2023 Memcom Excellence Award for best virtual/hybrid event, with 1,600 attending virtually and 600 in person.

Text which reads: The College’s Levelling the Playing Field report has shined a light on best practice in tackling racism and bias in the O&G profession.

A photo of RCOG Officers and Council members at the RCOG building at Union Street

Three people, two with RCOG World Congress 2023 lanyards, discussing and using a mobile phone.

New RCOG members in gowns and caps, seated at an RCOG membership ceremony.

The title reads: 'Meeting our members' needs'. The background is a photo of incoming RCOG members, wearing gowns and caps, waiting to go on stage at an admission ceremony.

a photo of incoming RCOG members, wearing gowns and caps, waiting to go on stage at an admission ceremony.

GOAL ONE

We will develop our membership offering to best meet the needs of our members globally and the women they serve and expand our reach across the international O&G community.

Advancing practice around the world

There are now more obstetricians and gynaecologists trained to the highest standards around the world – which means more women and girls are receiving the highest standards of care.

In 2022/23, membership of the RCOG grew by 5% to 17,511. In the four years since we launched our current strategy, the key focus of which being growth of our global membership, it has increased by 15% overall.

The College’s membership is truly global with 52% of members based in the UK and 48% based in 125 countries around the world.

Scroll through the map for more information on where our members are based.

The UK: 9,129 (52%)

Europe: 635 (4%)

Americas: 637 (4%)

Middle East and North Africa: 1,431 (8%)

Africa: 529 (3%)

Asia: 4,112 (23%)

Oceania: 1,038 (6%)

The College’s accreditation programme is helping to develop more O&G specialists around the world. We have partnered with international hospitals so they can become accredited providers of our speciality training programme.

New partnerships include hospitals in Kerala and Delhi in India, with ambitious programmes to deliver training to up to 65 doctors over the next three years.

In the United Arab Emirates, the College’s partnership programme at the Corniche Hospital in Abu Dhabi has successfully moved into its second year of delivering RCOG-accredited advanced training.

Providing the training and guidance professionals need to excel

The College has developed a new O&G curriculum to ensure clinical practice is ready for what the future holds. O&G Curriculum 2024 will train doctors in emerging skills and modernised ways of working. After a three-year review, which included comprehensive consultations with our membership, the new curriculum has been approved by the General Medical Council (GMC) and will launch across the UK in August 2024.

The RCOG was the first College approved to implement the new GMC portfolio pathway. This is a flexible assessment process for doctors to demonstrate the standards of knowledge, skills and experience required to practice as an eligible specialist in the UK. The assessment offers an alternative way to become a GMC registered O&G specialist.

By supporting this change in assessment, the College is helping to harness global expertise and talent, while maintaining quality and standards.

The College published 15 pieces of new evidence-based guidance and patient information, helping the membership and the women and people they care for expand their skills and knowledge. This included Green-top Guidelines on recurrent miscarriage and the management of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.

More than 600 delegates from 88 countries attended the RCOG World Congress 2023 at the RCOG office. Another 1,600 joined virtually for the three-day event , where speakers shared a wealth of O&G scientific research, best practice and knowledge with practitioners from around the world.

Topics included ‘Challenges and inequalities of maternity care’ and ‘Violence against doctors’. Sessions also included presentations from RCOG Women’s Network members, focusing on sharing lived experience and patient perspectives on a range of topics across O&G.