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.

25 November 2025

GP unemployment

The College landed an exclusive full-page Guardian article on our polling of practice managers, showing that while 61% of practices need to recruit a GP in the next year, 92% cannot afford to do so.

The article highlighted our open letter to the Health Secretary signed by over 8200 GPs and GP Registrars, urging him to ensure that the forthcoming 10-year Workforce Plan commits to train, recruit and retain the GPs needed to deliver safe and timely care.

RCGP Chair Kamila Hawthorne gave interviews to LBC (10.50 in) and LBC News (47.50 in) – leading to coverage throughout the day - highlighting the need for ring-fenced funding for general practice so that surgeries can hire the GPs they need.

Read our statement and letter

Safety alert issued to healthcare over patient allergy error

The College featured in The Scotsman and a number of other regional papers regarding a patient safety alert issued alongside NHS England and other royal colleges, over mis-recorded penicillin allergies in clinical systems.

Northen Ireland free care

The College featured in the News Letter, both digitally and in print, after responding to comments from the BMA Northern Ireland chair on the future of GP funding models.

RCGP reaffirmed that general practice in Northern Ireland must remain free at the point of need and publicly funded, rejecting suggestions of moving towards the Republic of Ireland’s mixed public–private system.

Future of 30 Euston Square

The College’s announcement about the potential move from its current London headquarters at 30 Euston Square was featured in Pulse.

Read our full statement

14 November 2025

NHS communication

College Chair Kamila Hawthorne appears in The Telegraph on widespread problems with NHS communications to patients. She explains how issues such as delayed letters, missed test results and disconnected IT systems affect patients and their GPs who have to chase missing information and support patients who receive incorrect or late information.

Letter to the Health Secretary

Our letter to Health Secretary on GP recruitment has attracted coverage in Pulse. In the letter we warn that general practice is struggling to recruit enough GPs due to funding constraints and call on Wes Streeting to commit to a clear roadmap for increasing GP numbers in the upcoming 10-Year Workforce Plan.

Antibiotic-resistant infections

The College features in Pulse, highlighting the excellent efforts of GPs in tackling unnecessary antibiotic use, on the back of latest UKHSA figures showing an increase of antibiotic-resistant infections. Chair Kamila Hawthorne stresses that GPs have already worked hard to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and are highly trained to prescribe safely, and that tackling resistance is a shared responsibility across all prescribers.