The royal colleges and faculties in the list that follows represent the range of recognised specialties in medicine in the United Kingdom. They are responsible for advising the General Medical Council on its requirements for specialist training; on approving and monitoring training posts in the NHS; for organising appropriate specialist examinations; and for admitting successful candidates to membership or fellowship of the relevant institution. They provide certificates of completion of specialist training which enables doctors to be registered with the General Medical Council as specialists (apart from the anomalous position of general practitioners, not yet recognised as a specialty).

The royal colleges and faculties also have an umbrella organisation called the Academy of Medical Colleges (10 Dallington Street, London EC1N 0DB [020 7490 6810]). By bringing together the expertise of the medical Royal Colleges and Faculties it aims to drive improvement in health and patient care through education, training and quality standards.

academy of medical colleges (see above).

royal college of anaesthetists, Churchill House, 35 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4SG (020 7092 1500; www.rcoa.ac.uk).

royal college of emergency medicine, 7–9 Breams Buildings, London, EC4A 1DZ (020 7404 1999; www.rcem.ac.uk).

royal college of general practitioners, 30 Euston Square, London NW1 2FB (020 3186 7400; www.rcgp.org.uk).

royal college of obstetricians and gynaecologists, 27 Sussex Place, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RG (020 7772 6200; www.rcog.org.uk).

royal college of ophthalmologists, 18 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HD (020 7935 0702; www.rcopth.ac.uk).

royal college of paediatrics and child health, 5–11 Theobalds Road, London, WC1X 8SH (020 7092 6000; www.rcpch.ac.uk).

royal college of pathologists, 21 Prescot Street, London E1 8BB (020 7451 6700; www.rcpath.org).

royal college of physicians, 11 St Andrews Place, London NW1 4LE (020 3075 1649; www.rcplondon.ac.uk).

royal college of physicians of edinburgh, 9 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JQ (0131 225 7324; www.rcpe.ac.uk).

royal college of physicians and surgeons of glasgow, 234–242 St Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5RJ (0141 221 6072; www.rcpsg.ac.uk).

royal college of physicians of ireland, 19 South Frederick Street, Dublin 2 (00353 1 8639700 www.rcpi.ie).

royal college of psychiatrists, 21 Prescot St, London E1 8BB (020 7235 2351; www.rcpsych.ac.uk).

royal college of radiologists, 63 Lincolns Inn Fields, London WC2A 3JW (020 7405 1282; www.rcr.ac.uk).

royal college of surgeons of edinburgh, 18 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DW (0131 556 6206,; www.rcsed.ac.uk).

royal college of surgeons of england, 35–43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PN (020 7405 3474,; www.rcseng.ac.uk).

royal college of surgeons of ireland, 123 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2 (00353 1 4022100; www.rcsi.ie).

faculty of dental surgery, 35–43 Lincolns Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PE (020 7869 6808; www.rcseng.ac.uk/fds).

faculty of intensive care medicine, Churchill House, 35 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4SG (020 70921653; www.ficm.ac.uk).

faculty of occupational medicine, New Derwent House, 69–73Theobalds Road, London WC1X 8TA (020 7247 8698; www.fom.ac.uk).

faculty of occupational medicine of ireland see Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

faculty of paediatrics of ireland see Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

faculty of pathologists of ireland see Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

faculty of pharmaceutical medicine, Angel Gate, 326 City Road, London, EC1V 2PT (020 3696 9040; www.fpm.org.uk).

faculty of public health medicine, 4 St Andrews Place, London NW1 4LB (020 7935 0243; www.fph.org.uk).

faculty of public health medicine of ireland see Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

faculty of sexual & reproductive health, 27 Sussex Place, London, NW1 4RG (020 3714 2128; www.fsrh.org).

british medical association, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JP (020 7387 4499; www.bma.org.uk). The BMA is a voluntary professional association of doctors from all branches of medicine, with more than 80 per cent of practising doctors in the UK in membership. It is a scientific and educational body, an independent trade union and a publishing house.

british dental association, 64 Wimpole Street, London W1M 8AL (020 7935 0875; www.bda-dentistry.org.uk). A voluntary professional body representing the dental profession; it also has scientific and educational responsibilities.

chartered society of physiotherapy, 14 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4ED (020 7306 6666; www.csp.org.uk). The professional and educational body and trade union for chartered physiotherapists.

cochrane uk, Summertown Pavilion, 18–24 Middle Way, Oxford OX2 7LE (01865 516 300; www.uk.cochrane.org) The UK part of a global independent network of researchers, professionals, patients, carers and people interested in health. It is a not-for-profit organization with contributors from more than 120 countries working together to produce health information free from commercial sponsorship and other conflicts of interest, by producing and publishing systematic reviews that summarize the best available evidence generated through research to inform decisions about health.

college of health-care chaplains, CHCC/UNITE, 128 Theobalds Road, London, WC1X 8TN (020 3371 2004; wwwhealthcarechaplains.org) A multi-faith interdenominational professional body which provides educational opportunities for health-care chaplains, sets and maintains high standards of chaplaincy and provides support through a regional branch structure.

college of optometrists, 42 Craven Street, London WC2N 5NG (020 7839 6000; www.college-optometrists.org). Members of the college have passed its qualifying examination and met its training requirements. The college's aims are to improve and conserve human vision, to study and research ophthalmic optics and to maintain high professional standards and competence.

college of podiatry, Quartz House, 207 Providence Square, London SE1 2EW (020 7234 8620; www.scpod.org).

The college is a charitable body whose aims are the advancement of health in particular, but not limited to, the prevention and treatment of diseases and conditions of the foot and lower limbs and the advancement of research and education of the public in the art and science of podiatric health. It provides educational and professional development for its members.

francis crick institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT (020 3796 0000; www.crick.ac.uk). The largest biomedical research centre under one unit in Europe, a multidisciplinary collaboration between the Medical Research Council, University College London, Imperial College, Kings College London, Wellcome Foundation and Cancer Research UK.

medical women's federation, Tavistock House North, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HX (020 7387 7765). Founded in 1912, its aims are to promote the personal and professional development of women in medicine, improve the health of women and their families in society and work to change discriminatory attitudes and practices.

Membership is open to women doctors and medical students, and the federation organises local and national seminars and conferences.

nhs confederation, 50 Broadway, London, SW1H 0DB (020 7799 6666; www.nhsconfed.net). A representative organisation with more than 500 trusts, health authorities and health boards as members. It brings together and speaks on behalf of all organisations that plan, commission and provide NHS services with members drawn from every part of the health and care system Its aims are to be an influential system leader; to represent its members with politicians, national bodies, the unions and in Europe; and to support members to continually improve care for patients and the public.

royal college of midwives, 15 Mansfield Street, London W1M 0BE (020 7872 5100; www.rcm.org.uk). A professional organisation, educational trust and trade union dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. It provides workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities through broad range of events, conferences and online resources.

royal college of nursing of the united kingdom (rcn), 20 Cavendish Square, London W1M 9AE (020 7409 3333; www.rcn.org.uk). The RCN is the voluntary professional association for registered, student and pupil nurses, midwives and health visitors. It has a worldwide membership of over 435,000. The college promotes the science and art of nursing, the training of nurses and the professional standing and interests of members and the profession. It represents nurses and negotiates on their behalf with the government and other employers.

royal college of speech and language therapists, 2 White Hart Yard, London SE1 1NX (020 7378 1200; www.rcslt.org). A professional body providing leadership and setting professional standards to promote the art and science of speech and language therapy – the care for individuals with communication, swallowing, eating and drinking difficulties. It facilitates and promotes research into the field of speech and language therapy, promotes better education and training of therapists and provides information for members and the public.

royal pharmaceutical society 66–68 East Smithfield, London, E1W 1AW(0845 257 2570; www.rpharms.com). A professional body, promoting pharmaceutical education and science, whose aims include supporting its members and customers to improve health outcomes for society. It provides professional development and support; the provision of quality medicines information and advice.

royal society of medicine (rsm), 1 Wimpole Street, London W1M 8AE (020 7290 2900; www.rsm.ac.uk). An independent, apolitical society of mainly medical members which provides a neutral forum for the exchange of views on medical, educational and other health-care issues. It also provides continuing medical education and possesses one of the most comprehensive medical libraries in the world.

the society of radiographers, Quartz House, 207 Providence Square, London SE1 2EW (020 7740 7200; www.sor.org). A trade union and professional body representing the professional, educational, public and workplace interests of the radiographic workforce. Membership is open to anyone working in clinical imaging, radiotherapy and oncology throughout the world.

The three commercial institutions listed below assist doctors and dentists with the wide range of legal and ethical problems that arise from professional practice. This can include clinical negligence claims, complaints, medical and dental council inquiries, legal and ethical dilemmas, disciplinary procedures, inquests and fatal accident inquiries. They also aim to support safe practice in medicine and dentistry by helping to avert problems in the first place by promoting risk management through workshops, e-learning, clinical risk assessments, publications, conferences, lectures and presentations.

medical defence union, MDU Services Ltd, One Canada Square, London, E14 (020 7202 1500; www.themdu.com).

medical protection society, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PS (0800 136 759; www.medicalprotection.org/uk).

medical and dental defence union of scotland, Mackintosh House, 120 Blythwood Street, Glasgow G2 4EA (0845 270 2034; www.mddus.com).