Clinical oncology and medical oncology – working together

Association of Cancer Physicians

• Prof Samreen Ahmed (Honorary Secretary)
• Dr Graham Dark (Vice-Chair)
• Dr Satinder Jagdev (Chair, Specialty Advisory Committee, Medical Oncology)
• Prof Andrew Wardley (Chair - and Co-Chair of Joint Working Group)

The Royal College of Radiologists (Faculty of Clinical Oncology)

• Dr Louise Hanna (Medical Director, Education and Training, Clinical Oncology)
• Dr Petra Jankowska (Medical Director, Professional Practice, Clinical Oncology)
• Dr Nicky Thorp (Vice President, Clinical Oncology and Co-Chair of Joint Working Group)

Overall purpose

1. An executive body that will support and enable:

• a) Clinical Oncology (CO) and Medical Oncology (MO) to discuss and deliver on key strategic and operational issues that are important to both specialties
• b) action and decision-making
• c) CO and MO to speak with a single national (UK) voice in support of service and specialty development, in the best interests of patient care.

Responsibilities

2. Key areas of oversight/responsibility include (but are not limited to):

• a) Workforce planning and development, including recruitment into CO and MO
• b) Exams and training for CO and MO
• c) Developing policy and future strategy, including working with national stakeholders
• d) Supporting effective service provision/development, including Acute Oncology
• e) Sharing and co-producing educational/learning opportunities (eg meetings, webinars, conferences)
• f) Sharing and developing professional guidance
• g) Engaging with research communities and supporting research
• h) Responding to national consultations and providing expert advice when needed.

Membership

3. There will be a maximum of 8 members of the Joint Working Group.

4. Membership will comprise the following ex officio:

• a) Association of Cancer Physicians Executive Committee
  • i. Chair
  • ii. Vice-Chair
  • iii. Honorary Secretary
  • iv. Chair, Specialty Advisory Committee, MO
• b) The Royal College of Radiologists' Faculty of Clinical Oncology
  • i. Vice President
  • ii. Medical Director, Education and Training
  • iii. Medical Director, Professional Practice.

5. Membership of the Joint Working Group will be kept under review, at least annually.

Chair

6. Meetings of the Joint Working Group will be chaired alternately by the Chair of the ACP Executive and the Vice President, Clinical Oncology of the RCR.

7. The chair will be supported by relevant staff from the ACP and the RCR to prepare for each meeting (see item 16 below).

8. In the absence of the designated chair at any one meeting, the chair from the other body (ACP or RCR) will chair the meeting.

Operation

9. The Joint Working Group will usually meet at least three times per year, on dates to be agreed.

10. Meetings may be held in person or remotely.

11. At meetings of the Joint Working group, two representatives from the ACP Executive and two representatives from the RCR Faculty of Clinical Oncology shall form a quorum. Members who are unable to attend meetings may nominate a deputy to represent them, to ensure a quorum.

12. If the meeting is not quorate, the chair should decide whether or not the meeting should go ahead. If the meeting does take place, definitive decisions will not be taken but recommendations may be made for subsequent approval (by email or other means) by those not present at the meeting.

13. The Joint Working Group may, from time-to-time, invite a guest(s) to attend meetings, for discussion of specific topics.

14. All members of the Joint Working Group are eligible to vote.

15. Secretariat support for the Joint Working Group will be provided by the ACP Administrator and the RCR Executive Officer, CO on the same rotation as the chair. The ACP Administrator and the RCR Executive Officer will attend all meetings of the Joint Working Group, for business continuity.

16. Minutes will be prepared and circulated for all meetings of the Joint Working Group.

17. Members of the Joint Working Group will abide by any stated or implied confidentiality that attaches to any of the work of the Group, both during and after any period of membership.

18. Joint Working Group members will comply with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018 regarding processing (as defined in the Act) of any personal data where it is made available to them as part of their work.

19. Costs associated with supporting meetings will be met by the body providing the secretariat (therefore shared on rotation).

20. Travel and subsistence costs of individual members attending in-person meetings are to met by their respective parent organisation.

21. Costs for the production of any resources arising from the Group's work (eg. learning resources/events, guidance documents, communications work) will be shared between the RCR and ACP or on a quid pro quo basis.

Approved: November 2023

 

Ex officio:

• Prof Mumtaz Patel, President, Royal College of Physicians 
• Dr Stephen Harden, President, Royal College of Radiologists
• Dr Omar Mustafa, Registrar, Royal College of Physicians
• Dr Nicky Thorp, Vice-President, Clinical Oncology, Royal College of Radiologists
• Tom Baker, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Royal College of Physicians
• Oliver Reichardt, Chief Executive, Royal College of Radiologists
• Dr Caroline Archer, Chair, Joint Specialty Committee for Medical Oncology, Royal College of Physicians
• Dr Rubab Batool, co-chair, Oncology Registrars’ Forum, Royal College of Radiologists
• Dr Karim El-Shakankery, resident doctor representative, Medical Oncology, Royal College of Physicians

Overall purpose

The Intercollegiate Oncology Forum advises the Royal College of Physicians of London (RCPL) and The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) on matters relating to the effective delivery of high-quality oncology services in the UK, for the benefit of patients.  

Responsibilities

The Intercollegiate Oncology Forum acts in an advisory capacity to support the UK Clinical Oncology and Medical Oncology workforce.  

It will: 

• discuss priorities for improving UK oncology services to support improvements in patient care
• support and promote collaborative working between Clinical Oncology and Medical Oncology
• provide direction to, and oversee the workplans and activities of, the Joint Working Group*.

Membership

Membership of the Intercollegiate Oncology Forum comprises:

Ex officio:

• President, RCPL
• President, RCR
• Registrar, RCPL
• Vice-President, Clinical Oncology, RCR
• Chief Executive, RCPL
• Chief Executive, RCR
• Chair, Joint Specialty Committee for Medical Oncology, RCPL
• A resident doctor representative from Clinical Oncology
• A resident doctor representative from Medical Oncology.

Membership will be kept under review.

The Intercollegiate Oncology Forum may co-opt up to two additional members if all members agree that additional and specific expertise or perspectives are required. The Forum shall be under no obligation to make any co-options. Co-opted members will serve for a period not exceeding three years.

The Intercollegiate Oncology Forum may invite key stakeholders to attend meetings as/when needed for items under consideration or otherwise consult with key stakeholders in the course of its business.

Ex-officio members’ period of office will coincide with the term of office for the position held.  

Chair

The Intercollegiate Oncology Forum is chaired by the President, RCPL and the President, RCR on annual rotation.

In the absence of the President with chair responsibility, the Intercollegiate Oncology Forum will be chaired by the President of the other College. 

The duties of the Chair include:

• Chairing all meetings
• Agreeing agenda and meeting papers
• Ensuring that the Terms of Reference are observed
• Engaging all members in meetings of the Intercollegiate Oncology Forum
• Ensuring that accurate meeting records are maintained.

Operation

The Intercollegiate Oncology Forum will meet not more than twice a year.

The quorum for meetings of the Forum is two representatives from the RCPL and two representatives from the RCR, including at least one Officer from each College. 

If any ex officio member from the RCPL or the RCR is unable to attend any meeting, a nominated deputy can attend in their place.

The role of Chair will alternate between the President, RCPL and the President, RCR each academic year. 

The Secretariat will be provided for each meeting by the relevant College.

Any costs associated with supporting and accommodating in-person meetings of the - Intercollegiate Oncology Forum will be met by the host College. Any travel and subsistence costs incurred by members in attending such meetings will be met by their parent College.

Approved: August 2025

*An executive body formed jointly between the Association of Cancer Physicians and the RCR’s Faculty of Clinical Oncology to support and enable Clinical Oncology and Medical Oncology to discuss and deliver on key strategic and operational issues that are important to both specialties, and to speak with a single national (UK) voice in support of service and specialty development, in the best interests of patient care.