HISTORIC 2,018 MILE CYCLE CHALLENGE HEADS TO WEST WALES

MILLIONS OF PATIENTS, 500 YEARS, 2,018 MILES – CELEBRATING THE RCP’S INCREDIBLE HISTORY

TUESDAY 14TH and WEDNESDAY 15TH AUGUST will see RCP president-elect Dr Andrew (Bod) Goddard head to West Wales in his historic quest to cycle

2,018 miles in the Royal College of Physicians’ 500th anniversary year, raising the profile of medicine and funds along the way.

Since the launch of the 2,018 mile cycle challenge in June 2017, Dr Goddard has clocked up over 1,700 miles by visiting more than 30 hospitals the length and breadth of the country, inviting members of the RCP to sign a new RCP500 CHARTER produced for the anniversary before the official birthday on 23 September 2018.

This leg of the cycle includes visits to BRONGLAIS GENERAL HOSPITAL, ABERYSTWYTH and GLANGWILI GENERAL HOSPITAL, CARMARTHEN where physicians will be encouraged to take part in the ride and encouraged to sign up to College’s new modern charter.

DR GODDARD said: ‘Very few organisations reach 500 years old, let alone with their original aims intact.  This is a great opportunity, not just to celebrate the RCP’s past, but also to reaffirm our commitment to patients and promote medicine as a brilliant and rewarding career. It’s been a privilege meeting so many of our members old and new while raising money for a great cause and meeting the target of 2,018 miles by the birthday next month.’

KING HENRY VIII agreed to the setting up of the college in 1518 to protect people from unqualified medical practitioners, originally only in London.  Through the centuries the RCP has developed this original mission into its present-day pledge to provide the highest standards of patient care in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  The RCP500 CHARTER is a commitment to patients to:

* Provide the highest standards of patient care

* Train, develop, and support doctors and healthcare professionals

* Champion research and innovation for patients’ benefit

* Act as leaders in developing, influencing and supporting high quality healthcare

* Promote good health and prevention of ill health.

The fundraising element of RCPCHARTERCYCLE: 2018FOR2018 is for PHYSICIANS FOR AFRICA, a flagship project of the RCP which seeks to spread best practice far and wide by improving access to well-trained physicians in East, Central and Southern Africa.

The lack of access to well-trained physicians in this region is stark: 1 physician per 100,000 people in Malawi, compared to 280 per 100,000 in the UK.  Over the course of the year Dr Goddard hopes to raise £100,000 which will help establish 12 new physician training units in six countries where access to doctors is limited, often impossible, for tens of millions of people.

https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/rcp500-charter [4]

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Media are invited to both signings at the following times and venues.

Please notify Rosaleen Doyle if you plan to attend.

TUESDAY 14 AUGUST (4–5PM) – BRONGLAIS GENERAL HOSPITAL, CARADOC RD, ABERYSTWYTH SY23 1ER. The charter and signings will take place in the Lecture Theatre, Post Grad Centre.

WEDNESDAY 15 AUGUST (3–4PM) – GLANGWILI GENERAL HOSPITAL, DOLGWILLI ROAD, CARMARTHEN SA31 2AF. The charter and signings will take place in Outpatient Department Reception (near Costa).

For more information on the RCP Charter Cycle West Wales leg, contact Rosaleen Doyle, policy and public affairs, on Rosaleen.Doyle@rcplondon.ac.uk |029 2049 4737.

For general information contact Claire Burroughs, interim head of media, claire.burroughs@rcplondon.ac.uk |020 3075 1468.