In the health news
Publication date: 11 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.
11 November 2025
“Mass Exodus” in GP Workforce
We secured an exclusive news story and accompanying op-ed on the growing threat of GP workforce losses in The Daily Express, which was then picked up in Healthcare Magazine, Pulse, GPOnline and several regional outlets. The coverage reported warnings from the College that a significant proportion of GPs may leave the profession within the next five years due to unsustainable workload and burnout, and amplified our core message on the need for long-term investment in general practice.
Flu / Winter Illness
College messaging on rising flu cases and increasing winter pressures on general practice continued to gain coverage in the Telegraph, Mirror (Online) and Professor Kamila Hawthorne was interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live on Saturday morning. Articles included advice on managing symptoms and reminded eligible patients to take up the flu vaccination.
Online consultations
A feature in BBC News Online and syndicated across Yahoo! News, AOL and regional news platforms considered the new requirement for GP practices in England to offer online appointment booking to improve patient access. It highlights that high demand and workforce pressures mean it can still be difficult to get seen quickly and Kamila Hawthorne is quoted making clear that GP practices need more funding in order to employ the GPs they need to deliver patient care.
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.
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