In the health news

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.

10 September 2025

GP Practice Closures

College warnings about practice closures and the impact they have on patients appeared on the front page of The Times this morning (see attached), with analysis showing that two GP surgeries are closing every week. RCGP Chair Kamila Hawthorne laid out what a loss of a local surgery can mean for patients, and pointed to poor workforce planning and underfunding as the cause.

Kamila also spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live (2.42) and Times Radio, and the story has been covered by the Express and commercial radio stations including Talk Sport and Virgin Radio.

Read our statement

Glucose monitoring

We featured in BBC News responding to reports of widespread errors in diabetes diagnosis machines, resulting in an estimated 55,000 patients in need of retesting. Our statement highlighted the unnecessary anxiety this may have caused patients and the need for support for GP teams to ensure that the issue is resolved.

Kamila Hawthorne was interviewed by BBC News at Six, and the College’s response was also covered by BBC News at One, BBC Radio 4, and across BBC regional radio stations.

Read our statement

Weight Loss Drugs

College Medical Director for Clinical Policy Adrian Hayter spoke to The Independent about the challenges of tackling obesity and the limitations of weight loss drugs, Adrian called for a more holistic approach and a focus on nutrition not just weight.

Long Term Workforce Plan

The College was a signatory to an open letter calling on Wes Streeting and the DHSC to consult with external healthcare organisations in the build-up to the Long Term Workforce Plan. The letter was covered by Pulse, GPonline and Healthcare Leader.

Antibiotic prescribing

We featured in the Pharmaceutical Journal responding to the rise in antibiotic prescribing to children in primary care since the pandemic. Our statement outlined that the rise is largely a result of temporary changes to prescribing thresholds during the Strep A outbreak and that GPs are looking for ways to safely reduce antibiotic prescribing.

1 September 2025

Chickenpox vaccine

College Chair Kamila Hawthorne spoke to Times Radio (2:07:20) about the launch of the chickenpox vaccination programme in England, taking effect from January 2026. Kamila discussed the importance of the childhood vaccination programme and the risk to vulnerable patients from the condition, encouraging parents to ensure that their children are up to date and, if not, to get them vaccinated.

Our response to the announcement was covered by The i Paper, Daily Mirror and Pulse.

Covid cases

We featured in The Telegraph commenting on the rising number of Covid cases, reported by the UKHSA. Our statement gave patients who have displayed symptoms advice on how to relieve the worst effects and the importance of measures to avoid transmission.

GP pressures

RCGP Scotland Chair Chris Provan featured in the Daily Record with an op-ed on the pressures facing general practice and the wider health service, calling on the Scottish government to boost investment in primary care.

GPs working overseas

We featured in Pulse responding to a survey which found that close to two thirds of UK GPs have considered working abroad, citing increased pay and better conditions as motivating factors. Our response stressed the need for urgent action to encourage GPs to stay in the profession through the funding of national and local retention schemes.