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.

29 September 2025

Women's health

We featured in The Telegraph, The Independent, The Standard and a range of regional titles with our response - submitted via PA Media - to a YouGov survey which found 70% of women felt their health concerns had not been taken seriously by their GP.

Our comment expressed the College's concerns at the figures and stated that all GPs are trained to have open and non-judgemental conversations with patients, and how women should feel comfortable approaching their GP team when they have a health concern.

Trans healthcare

We featured in ITV News and Pulse responding to a survey of GPs from the charity TransActual asking whether they felt they had received sufficient training to support trans patients, with over two thirds saying they didn't. Our statement explained that the treatment of gender dysphoria is a specialist area of medicine and may not necessarily be within a GP's competence, unless they've received additional training, and that the College would support the development of a framework to upskill more GPs.

Covid

We secured coverage in The Telegraph on the most effective way patients can manage the symptoms of Covid, in light of rising cases of a new strain.

Older patients

We featured in Pulse responding to a study from Age UK which found that older patients are struggling to access GP services. Our comment reiterated the messaging of the Age UK report which highlighted the pressures on general practice and the importance of ensuring older patients receive joined up care with community services.

Antibiotic prescribing

We secured coverage in Pulse on the latest data on antibiotic prescribing, suggesting a fall in the past year and the good work being done by GPs. We highlighted the College’s work to support GPs to reduce prescribing and deliver more targeted prescriptions.

Measles

Our calls for greater take-up of the MMR and childhood vaccination programmes were included in a story in Pulse on the falling rate of measles cases. 

24 September 2025

Jess's Rule

The College's involvement in and support for Jess's Rule received significant media coverage, including in BBC News, The Telegraph, The Times, Mirror, Sky News, GB News, The Sun, The Independent, The Guardian, Pulse, The BMJ, GPonline and a range of online and regional titles via Press Association.

College Chair Kamila Hawthorne spoke to ITV News, BBC Radio 5 Live (1:22:00) and LBC News (01:46:15) (with clips being used on news bulletins throughout the day) discussing what the rule will mean for patients and GPs.

Read our response

Our eLearning module, developed with the Jessica Brady CEDAR Trust can be accessed on the online learning environment.

Safety of paracetamol

Kamila also featured on ITV News responding to Donald Trump's comments that the use of Tylenol (an American version of paracetamol) during pregnancy is linked to risk of autism - and also questioning the safety of the MMR vaccination. Kamila reassured patients that evidence shows paracetamol where required is safe to be taken by pregnant women, and expressed concerns about comments casting doubt over the safety of MMR. Kamila also discussed this briefly on BBC Radio 5 Live.

GP abuse

We secured coverage in The Guardian responding to a BJGP study on violence and abuse faced by general practice staff from the public. Our comment expressed dismay at the prevalence of abuse against GPs, calling for practices to be supported in dealing with instances appropriately. Kamila Hawthorne also discussed this briefly on LBC News.

Read our response

Flu vaccines

We featured in GPonline with comment responding to the roll out of flu vaccines for toddlers across 4000 sites in community pharmacy in England. Our statement expressed the need to address the barriers to vaccinations and the importance of ensuring general practice has the support it needs to deliver them.

Training places

We also secured coverage in GPonline with comment on the competition ratios for GP training places. NHS data suggests that the ratio has risen substantially in the past ten years.

GP funding

RCGP Wales Chair Rowena Christmas featured in GPonline following her address to the Senedd at a hearing on GP funding, at which Rowena detailed the pressures facing Welsh GPs and the pressing need for adequate funding.

19 September 2025

RCGP Scotland manifesto

The launch of RCGP Scotland’s manifesto ahead of next year’s Holyrood elections featured prominently in The Scotsman, as well in The Herald, the National, the Scottish Daily Mail and across BBC radio stations.

Scottish Parliament Elections webpage

GP workforce intentions

The College’s response to research in the BMJ showing that around a third of qualified GPs are not working in NHS general practice featured in the Guardian, the Daily Mail, the Mirror, the I, LBC and numerous local and online outlets via Press Association - also in GPonline. College Chair Kamila Hawthorne discussed the need for retention initiatives to be included in the forthcoming review of the long term workforce plan, and for GPs from overseas to have the right to apply for indefinite leave to remain upon qualification.

Read our response

RCGP Wales: AoMRC manifesto launch and Senedd appearance

The launch of the Welsh Academy of Medical Royal Colleges’ (chaired by RCGP Wales Chair, Rowena Christmas) manifesto ahead of next year’s Senedd elections featured in the influential Will Hayward newsletter.

Read our statement

Rowena’s appearance at the Senedd Health Committee’s inquiry into the Future of General Practice also featured across the Welsh press, including in the Western Mail and South Wales Evening Post.

Physical punishment of children

Kamila Hawthorne has co-signed a letter highlighting the negative health impacts of physical punishment of children, published in The Times.