Latest COVID-19 updates from RCGP

• RCGP vlog
• RCGP blog
• COVID-19 articles in RCGP publications
• Updates from Research and Surveillance Centre
• Letters from RCGP
• RCGP in the media
• RCGP press releases

Latest from the RCGP vlog

Reinvigorating relationship-based care

High quality general practice is enabled when the doctor knows the patient and vice versa. This requires time to build, nurture and maintain a relationship of trust between patients and their GPs. College Chair Professor Martin Marshall leads our panel. (30 July 2020).

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Find more COVID-19 vlogs on our YouTube channel

From the RCGP blog

• Update on future sittings of the RCA, Dr Michael Mulholland, RCGP Vice Chair for Professional Development (12 August 2020).
• Immunisation is key, Dr Jonathan Leach, Joint Honorary Secretary (7 August 2020).
• The impact of COVID-19 on College operations, Professor Peter Saul, Joint Chair of RCGP Wales (7 August 2020). 
• Reflecting at the end of an important week for GP recruitment and retention in Scotland, Dr Carey Lunan, Chair of RCGP Scotland (7 August 2020).
• Our role in advocating for cancer patients cannot be underestimated, Dr Laurence Dorman, Chair of RCGPNI (7 August 2020).
• Do we risk sacrificing our effectiveness as clinicians in the name of convenience? Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of RCGP Council (31 July 2020).
• Delivering a prudent approach to primary care in Wales, Dr Mair Hopkin, Joint Chair of RCGP Wales (31 July 2020).
• Update on the Health Inequalities Standing Group, Dr Carey Lunan, Chair of RCGP Scotland (31 July 2020).
• Education - the key to solving our workforce problems, Dr Laurence Dorman, Chair of RCGPNI (31 July 2020).
• The expert medical generalist is a remarkably effective and cost-effective clinician, Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of RCGP Council (24 July 2020).

Read older posts on the RCGP blog

COVID-19 articles in RCGP publications

• BJGP COVID-19 articles
• BJGP Open COVID-19 articles
• BJGP Life COVID-19 articles
• BJGP Clinical Solutions COVID-19 articles
• InnovAIT COVID-19 articles

Updates from the RCGP Research and Surveillance Centre

• Staying active while staying home - resources for GP teams and patients, Dr Andrew Boyd, RCGP Clinical Champion for Physical Activity and Lifestyle (17 April 2020).
• COVID-19: Adaptive clinical trials, extended public health surveillance, and updated coding guidelines, RCGP Research and Surveillance Centre (17 April 2020).
• COVID-19: Public health surveillance, primary care clinical trials, and improving data quality, RCGP Research and Surveillance Centre (3 April 2020).
• GPs rise to the COVID-19 surveillance challenge - more help needed, Professor Simon de Lusignan (20 March 2020).
• Next steps in COVID-19 primary care surveillance, Professor Simon de Lusignan (13 March 2020).

Letters and statements from RCGP

• Rebuilding the NHS: Improving medical pathways for acute care (13 July 2020).
• Letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the future of the shielding programme (17 June 2020).
• Letter to Ian Tranholm, Chief Executive at the CQC following the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 (13 March 2020).

RCGP in the media

The College is in the media almost daily, providing information for GP patients and representing the interests of the profession. RCGP Chair Martin Marshall works with College officers and GPs around the country to ensure that the pressures on general practice are featured on TV and radio programmes, as well as in national and local print media.

College responds to new draft guidelines on chronic pain

The College’s response to the recently published NICE draft guidelines on chronic pain has received substantial national media coverage.

The response was featured on the front page of The Daily Express with a comment piece from College Chair Martin Marshall, as well as The Times, BBC News and Pulse.

Martin was also interviewed on LBC Radio (around 01:25:00), BBC Radio 5 Live (around 1:12:00), and Times Radio (around 01:55:00) on Tuesday on the topic, discussing the need for GPs to have greater access to alternative therapies that they can refer patients to.

Demand for routine GP appointments back to near normal levels

A Press Association report features comments from Martin Marshall on how demand for routine GP appointments is now nearing normal levels and the critical role of general practice in aiding communities’ recovery from the COVID-19 virus.

The article has since been featured in around 100 regional and online outlets, for example in the Lancaster Guardian.

Follow @RCGP on Twitter for the latest updates.

Latest press releases

• GP practices preparing for expanded flu vaccination programme but need assurance about supply, says RCGP (11 August 2020).
• Continuity of care must be at the forefront of minds as plans are made for how patients access GP services post-COVID (11 August 2020).
• CCGs should work with GP practices to ensure patients who need face to face consultations continue to be able to have them, says RCGP (6 August 2020).
• More than 10,000 aspiring medics sign up for virtual GP work experience during COVID-19 crisis (5 August 2020).
• 'Patchy' access to chronic pain management therapies must be addressed if new NICE guidelines are to make a difference (3 August 2020).
• RCGP recognises GPs for their contribution to clinical guidelines and standards (30 July 2020).
• Good aspirations but frustrating lack of detail for general practice in NHS People Plan, says RCGP (30 July 2020).
• A clear take away from COVID is that GPs work well with less bureaucracy, says RCGP (30 July 2020).
• RCGP survey provides snapshot of how GP care is accessed in latest stages of pandemic (30 July 2020).
• RCGP Scotland welcomes the launch of NHS Pharmacy First Scotland (29 July 2020).

Read earlier press releases in our news section