In the health news
Publication date: 07 November 2025
Last year, the RCGP’s press team secured almost 20,000 media hits across print, broadcast and online outlets. The College regularly features in the news to be the voice for general practice on issues that matter to members, including GP workload and workforce, health inequalities and preventive health. We’re frequently quoted in articles covering wide-ranging clinical, health policy and wider societal issues. In the health news’ is our regular round-up of media coverage featuring the College and its spokespeople, and will be updated on a weekly basis.
07 November 2025
Flu
Figures from the College’s Research and Surveillance Centre alongside excerpts from an op-ed by RCGP Chair Kamila Hawthorne were published in The Mirror and several regional outlets. The RSC data shows GP consultations for flu-like illness are continuing to rise around 40 to 60% above the seasonal average – and Kamila’s comments offers patients advice on how to manage flu symptoms and encourages those in at-risk groups to get their flu jab.
ADHD
The Independent, Daily Mail and a number of regional outlets featured the College’s response to the ADHD Taskforce report. Kamila Hawthorne made clear the challenges GPs face delivering care to patients with suspected ADHD, especially given long waits for specialist care.
Scottish GPs funding
RCGP Scotland featured on the BBC and other regional publications responding to news that Scottish GPs have reached an agreement with the government for an extra £531 million in funding. Vice Chair Dr Chris Williams warned that without significant investment and a sustained expansion of the GP workforce, general practice services risk becoming unsustainable.
Funding was also mentioned Alex Cole-Hamilton's speech to Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference, citing the College’s comments that GP services are under severe pressure.
King Charles meets armed forces veterans
The Independent and several regional publications reported on the King’s visit to a GP surgery participating in the Veteran Friendly Practice scheme, run jointly by the College and NHSE. The coverage reinforces the College’s leadership in developing national initiatives that promote tailored, high-quality and compassionate care for specific patient groups.
The scheme was also discussed in the latest GPonline podcast, which includes an interview with College veteran’s champion Emily Brookes who shares best practice examples from participating surgeries.
Online access
Kamila was quoted in The Mirror and other regional outlets responding to Care Minister Stephen Kinnock’s comments criticising GP practices that have not yet initiated online appointment bookings for patients. She said practices are working flat out to meet patient demand with many already offering online booking – and that practices that aren’t need support, not censure.
Overseas doctors
Kamila highlights the important role international medical graduates play in sustaining general practice in the Telegraph in a piece on a review led by Chris Whitty recommending that the NHS focus more on UK-trained doctors for recruitment and reduce reliance on internationally trained medics.
Fit notes
The College’s response to a government-commissioned review that recommends responsibility for long-term fit notes eventually to shift from GPs to an employer-funded work-capacity assessment has been covered by Pulse. Kamila was supportive in principle given workload challenges in general practice but made clear that reforms must be consistently evaluated and prioritise the health and wellbeing of patients over economic or political targets.
28 October 2025
Antidepressants
College Chair Kamila Hawthorne featured in the Express US, the Mirror and in a range of regional titles following her interview with ITV Lunchtime News on new research into the side effects of antidepressants. She reassured patients that GPs will only prescribe antidepressants “with good reason” and highlighted the importance of follow up care.
Additionally, RCGP Wales Chair Rowena Christmas appeared on BBC Radio Wales to discuss the recent ‘league table of antidepressants’. Her interview can be heard at 15:07 on BBC Sounds.
Sleeping pills
A statement from the College featured on BBC Morning Live defending GPs on the overprescribing of sleeping pills. We highlighted how GPs are mindful of the risks of side effects and withdrawal and only prescribe such medication when necessary and for short-term use.
Climate and health
An editorial in The BMJ titled “I care about the climate crisis but what can I actually do?” featured advice from Dr Veena Aggarwal, Co-Chair of the College’s Climate and Sustainability Group. She encouraged health professionals to to take practical steps towards more sustainable healthcare.
Ghost patients
The College defended GP practices in a Daily Mail story on so-called ‘ghost patients’, claiming that several million people remain on GP lists without using their services, potentially skewing funding. Our response supported practices by saying that they work hard to keep their patient lists accurate, and that this was primarily a records-management issue rather than deliberate action.
Deep end Wales
RCGP Wales featured in Wales Watching’s Will Hayward’s Newsletter discussing the launch of the Deep End Cymru manifesto, which calls on the next Welsh Government to address healthcare inequality. The piece highlighted the challenges faced by GP practices in Wales’s most deprived areas and cited research showing that current funding policies result in practices with higher levels of deprivation receiving less support.
Parkrun
The College’s Parkrun Practices initiative was referenced in The Economist in a feature exploring the public health benefits.
The article highlighted how the scheme encourages GP practices to link with local Parkruns to promote physical activity and community wellbeing.
Hair thinning
College Chair Kamila Hawthorne was quoted in The Guardian, both in print and online, in a feature exploring the rise in women seeking hair transplants and the risks of unregulated clinics. She said that excessive hair loss can sometimes indicate an underlying medical condition and advised that anyone experiencing significant hair loss should seek support from their GP practice.
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