Celebrates developments that have implemented systematic change in order to achieve a measurable improvement in the quality of healthcare services, patient care or health outcomes.

We are seeking to reward work on innovative digital systems, medical technology, or AI that have, or promise to, improve patient safety, reduce digital exclusion or improve staff well-being within the NHS or healthcare more widely. 

Thanks to a generous donation from digital health expert Professor Harold Thimbleby, digital health fellow at Swansea University and author of the award-winning book Fix IT: See and solve the problems of digital healthcare the Royal College of Physicians is offering an a prize of £5,000 for the winning project of this award. 

Rewards innovative ideas to improve a team's or groups of physicians working, and development.  This may be in the form of flexible working, wellbeing, team or group development activities to ensure staff are working at their best and delivering high quality patient care. 

Recognises individuals or teams that have adopted sustainable healthcare within their department or wider organisation. The award celebrates efforts to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare and deliver combined health, environmental, financial, and social benefits. 

Recognises projects that have measurably improved patient safety acknowledging efforts to foster a culture of learning, openness and innovation amid ongoing pressures and change.

The Patient Safety Excellence in Patient Care Award has been supported by a generous contribution from the Medical Protection Society.

Recognises individual healthcare workers and teams who have made an extraordinary contribution to improving the patient experience and placed patients’ needs, views and involvement at the heart of improvement.

This award has been supported by Dr Eric Watts, a haematologist and fellow of the RCP. As a teenager Eric was hospitalised while being treated for cancer and his poor patient care experiences not only inspired him to pursue medicine as a career but also to campaign for better patient care. He has worked closely with the RCP on work to improve patient experiences and we would like to thank him for his generous support.

Rewards projects involving the development of medical education and training programmes, services or structures that have improved the quality of patient care delivered.

Recognition for investigator-led research advancing medical knowledge that has contributed to, or has the potential to contribute to, significant improvements in health outcomes. 

Acknowledges teams who aim have made significant contributions to reducing health inequalities. The award celebrates innovative, collaborative efforts that improve access to care, address social determinants of health and promote equitable health outcomes for underserved and marginalised groups in particular coastal communities.  

This is a new award that will see the top 3 quality improvement projects from the 24/25 Chief Registrar cohort  invited to the ceremony to present their projects.