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.

12 August 2025

Maternity care

College Chair Kamila Hawthorne responded to the announcement of an NHS England initiative that expectant mothers will now be able to refer themselves to local maternity services without seeing their GP first. Our comment, largely supportive of this change, was covered by i News, LBC Radio and across various online and regional outlets, via the Press Association.

Read our response

CCT numbers

The College released the estimated CCT numbers for this year, which have significantly risen in comparison with recent years. Both Chair Kamila Hawthorne and Co-Chair of GP Registrars Committee Board Dr Deepthi Lavu made clear that this is positive news, but efforts must now be made to ensure all newly qualified GPs can secure appropriate employment, and be supported to remain in the workforce. The story was covered by Pulse, GPOnline, and the BMJ.

Read our response

BJGP partnership model

College colleagues Ruth Ellenby, Clare Keeling, Christey Blythen and Chair Kamila Hawthorne co-wrote an editorial for the BJGP examining the strengths of the partnership model of general practice, and considering how it needs to evolve to meet the challenges it faces.

Weight loss drugs

Our response to the roll-out of weight-loss jabs in primary care (first distributed in June) was covered again by The Sun in a story revealing that Ely Lilly could soon release orforglipron - a weight loss medication taken as a pill.

GP pressures

RCGP Wales Chair Rowena Christmas spoke to Greatest Hits Radio discussing the fact that some GPs are leaving the UK to work abroad and the reasons for this – primarily the underlying pressures on the NHS.

GP to patient ratio

Reference to College commissioned data on the GP to patient ratio, finding that GPs in deprived areas are responsible for around 300 more patients than those in more affluent areas of country, was featured in the Big Issue.

5 August 2025

NICE guidance on weight loss medication

Chair Kamila Hawthorne was interviewed live on BBC News, discussing the new guidance on patient aftercare from NICE for weight loss medications. The College’s response to new guidance from NICE on the importance of patient aftercare for those who are prescribed weight loss drugs was covered on BBC News, Daily Mail, The Telegraph and The Independent, among others. The College welcomed the recommendation that care for patients must continue when they stop taking the drugs, in order to sustain weight loss – and that as such, investment in the roll out of weight loss drugs on the NHS must not come at the expense of other interventions.

Online appointments

RCGP Chair Kamila Hawthorne spoke to Good Morning Britain about the amount of general practice care being delivered remotely. The College said it supported a ‘mixed method approach’ to delivering care, which should be agreed between patient and clinician – and that remote consultations can be convenient and safe options. The story originated via Press Association and was covered across various national and regional news titles – with Kamila’s comments appearing in The Independent, LBC, The Telegraph, the Daily Mail, Daily Express, the Sun, the Mirror, the Daily Star and The Times. RCGP Vice Chair, Thomas Patel Campbell, spoke on BBC Radio York about the rise in remote GP appointments.

Patient satisfaction

The College’s response to new data from NHS England showing that patient satisfaction has improved on average, across the country, was covered in many regional papers via Press Association and in the BMJ. The College said that while the results were encouraging, it is aware there are still barriers to patient access and appointment delivery to contend with.

Older drivers

Following the tragic death of a woman in Cornwall, a BBC investigation considers the current rules around older drivers and the GP’s role in enforcing them. The College’s comment, that it would welcome a more formalised approach to reporting to the DVLA, was covered on BBC News Online, and across regional BBC regional radio stations.

Alcohol open letter

The College signed an open letter to Wes Streeting, calling for more sufficient measures to tackle the harms of alcohol misuse. This was shared with Press Association and covered by the Daily Mail and The Independent.

AI in general practice

The MHRA have warned there is a risk of ‘hallucinations’ when using AI and called for GPs to be aware of potential inaccuracies. The Daily Mail coverage references the College’s support for technology to help reduce administrative burdens, while noting the risks around AI scribing.