Royal College of Podiatry (RCPod)

The Royal College of Podiatry is the premier podiatry organisation in the United Kingdom. It is a learned society, incorporated on 17 November 1945, and an independent trade union affiliated to the TUC. It provides a range of membership services to podiatrists throughout the United Kingdom and overseas, including education, professional practice guidance, employment support, and malpractice insurance (UK only). It publishes a bi-monthly professional magazine, The Podiatrist, and holds a scientific conference each year. The College has a number of branches, all over the United Kingdom and overseas, which provide an opportunity to meet fellow podiatrists and discuss matters of mutual interest, and promote continuing professional development for members.

Mission:
The College promotes guidelines and standards of practice that are evidence-based and ensure the safety of patients and clinical effectiveness, with a focus on outcomes. It campaigns to raise awareness among the general public and at government level that good lower-limb health is essential and that podiatry is a key element of preventative medicine.

The College endeavours to influence the governments of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom, ensuring they understand that podiatry encompasses specialist care, surgery, general practice and public health, and that it makes a vital contribution to the health of the population.

The College campaigns against down-grading in the NHS and job cuts in order to make sure that essential services are not eroded further. As a Trade Union they endeavour to negotiate the best Terms and Conditions for their members and represent the podiatry workforce at national, regional and local level.

Values:
The College promotes the highest professional values, practice and standards, as well as enhanced public awareness of good lower-limb health. It provides members with guidelines and standards relating to patient care which must be adhered to in order to comply with membership requirements.