Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

History

The college was founded in 1599, by a royal charter from King James VI of Scotland. The charter was granted to Peter Lowe, a surgeon who trained in France, and author of The Whole Course of Chirurgerie (1597), and Robert Hamilton, a Scottish physician. The charter also mentions by name the apothecary William Spang, who was granted the power to inspect and regulate the sale of drugs in the town. The college originally had no corporate name but became known as the Facultie (1629), then the Facultie of Chyrurgeons and Physitians (1654). By the end of the 17th century the name was established as the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. Powers were granted to examine and regulate surgical practice in the baronies of Glasgow, Renfrew and Dumbarton, and the districts or sheriffdoms of Clydesdale, Renfrew, Lanark, Kyle, Carrick, Ayr and Cunningham. Physicians were admitted on production of their MD diploma.

The faculty was incorporated with the town council to gain burgh privileges in 1656, and purchased a property on the Trongate in 1697. This was demolished and a purpose-built faculty hall was erected on the site in 1698. The Faculty Library was also founded in 1698. In 1791, the faculty moved to a new hall in St Enoch Square and in 1862 to their current property on St. Vincent Street, part of the New Town lands developed by William Harley of Blythswood Square. In 1909, the Faculty was allowed to add the prefix "royal" to its name; and in 1962 the name was again changed to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow to bring it into line with its sister corporations.

The faculty was unique in that it included the professions of barber and apothecary in addition to those of surgeon and physician. In 1656 the surgeons and barbers jointly received a Letter of Deaconry from the town council, establishing them as a craft or trade, with representation in the Trades House. However, relations between the barbers and the surgeons deteriorated later the 17th century, until in 1722 they split and the Letter of Deaconry became null and void. The barbers received money to the value of their share in the Faculty Hall in the Trongate and a new, separate Letter of Deaconry from the town council.

The faculty defended its right to be the only body in Glasgow responsible for training and maintaining standards against the claims of the University of Glasgow. This resulted in extensive litigation in the early 19th century over the status of surgical degrees, which was eventually settled in the faculty's favour. The faculty offered a licence for surgeons from 1785 which served as a basic medical qualification. The Double Qualification in medicine and surgery, established with the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, was instituted in 1859 and was replaced by the Triple Qualification in 1884. This was a joint medical qualification between all three Scottish medical colleges. At the end of World War II the Goodenough Committee recommended that a medical degree be the sine qua non of entry to the medical profession. From that time onward the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow has concentrated on postgraduate training, professional development and examinations.

Qualifications awarded

FRCP(G) (Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow qua Physician)

FRCS(G) (Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow qua Surgeon)

FDS RCPSG (Fellowship in Dental Surgery of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow)

FFTM RCPSG (Fellowship in the Faculty of Travel Medicine of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow)

FFPM RCPSG (Fellow of the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow)

Formerly MRCS(G) (Member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow qua Surgeon)

Intercollegiate MRCS (Membership of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland)

Formerly MRCP(G) (Member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow qua Physician)

Intercollegiate MRCP(UK) (Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom)

MFDS RCPSG (Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Glasgow)

The reason the post-nominal letters for the fellowships use "FRCP(G)" and "FRCS(G)" rather than something like "FRCPS(G)-P" and "FRCPS(G)-S" is that they are parallel in form with all other similar fellowship designations for physicians and surgeons, such as FRCP(E)/FRCS(E), FRCP(I)/FRCS(I), FRCP(Lon)/FRCS(Eng). The same is true for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, which grants the FRCP(C) and FRCS(C) fellowships.

Faculty of Dental Surgery

The four surgical colleges in the UK and Ireland received authorisation, through legislation laid out in the Dentists Act 1878 (41 & 42 Vict. c. 33), to establish a qualification through examination that would lead to registration on the Dentist Register. The dentist act of 1984 now supersedes this. The register was held by the General Medical Council at that time. The first examination took place in 1879 and 'the Licence in Dental Surgery' was awarded by the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

In 1935, the college decided to create a Dental Committee that could provide advice on dental matters. In 1967 this committee became known as the Dental Council.

1968 saw formation of the Joint Committee for Higher Training in Dentistry by the four Royal Colleges of Edinburgh, England, Glasgow and Ireland.

In 1990 a Dental Faculty was established to recognise the increasing role of Dental Fellows in the college. As a result, the Convenor of Dental Council was elevated to that of Dean.

Role of the Dental Faculty

The Faculty of Dental Surgery is the professional group within the college with responsibility for dental surgeons. The Faculty set standards for dental practice through prescribing programmes of education and training, assessing their outcomes through examination, and delivering programmes of continuing professional development.

Dental Examinations

Up until 1947 there was a continued demand for the Licence in Dental Surgery awarded by the Royal College. The University of Glasgow then took responsibility for undergraduate education of dental surgeons and began awarding degrees in Dentistry.

The Fellowship in Dental Surgery (FDS) was first established by the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1947. The Glasgow College established its own FDS in 1967. Originally the FDS was the highest diploma in dentistry that could be awarded by the colleges.

Faculty of Podiatric Medicine

The Faculty of Podiatric Medicine was officially formed on 11 May 2012, following several years of negotiations between the college and representatives of the podiatry profession.

The establishment of the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine represented an important milestone, being the first time one of the UK Royal Colleges of medicine and surgery had agreed to accept suitably qualified members of podiatry profession to join and establish a standalone faculty.

The faculty promotes and supports the advancement of postgraduate education and development in podiatric medicine both locally and across the UK, as well as internationally in such countries as Australia and the United States. In 2024, the college developed a memorandum of understanding with the American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM) to form a partnership allowing members of the board to join the college.

Podiatrists can apply for Membership of the Faculty (MFPM RCPS(Glasg)), and undergo examinations or assessment of prior skills and experience to progress towards Fellowship (FFPM RCPS(Glasg)).