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.

20 January 2026

Social media harms

The Daily Mail exclusively covered the College’s position statement on the impact of social media on children’s mental and physical health. GPs are increasingly seeing the effects -including anxiety, sleep problems and emotional distress – on younger patients in their surgeries. Our Chair Victoria Tzortziou Brown was quoted, highlighting her concerns around medical disinformation and AI, and calling for online harms to be treated as a public health priority.

RCGP Wales Chair Dr Rowena Christmas – who, along with Dr Shamila Wanninayake, first raised the issue at College Council – was also interviewed on Sky News, Sky News Radio and BBC Radio 5 Live, discussing what GPs are seeing on the frontline in terms of young people and technology.

This followed coverage in the Sunday Times of the letter sent to Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall from the Academy of Royal Colleges – of which the RCGP is a member – warning of the growing evidence of health harms from online content and screen time on children and young people.

You can read the RCGP’s policy statement and commentary on the subject.

Jess' Rule

The College featured in the Daily Mail, the Guardian, the Independent, the Daily Mirror, ITV Online and the Daily Telegraph in coverage of the roll out of posters advertising Jess’s Rule – where GPs are encouraged to rethink and review if a patient presents three times with the same symptoms that haven’t improved - to GP practices across England. In her quote Victoria reiterated the RCGP’s support for the campaign and the College’s role in strengthening diagnostic review, reflection, and patient safety in general practice.

The story was also covered widely across commercial and regional radio including LBC News, TalkRadio and TalkSport.

Read the College’s full statement

Scabies

Data from the RCGP’s Research and Surveillance Centre featured prominently in the Guardian looking at the rise of scabies cases, showing that cases remain higher than the five-year national average – peaking at almost double the average over the final four months of 2025. The story was also covered by The Sun and GB News.

16 January 2026

Neighbourhood health

RCGP Scotland has been quoted across major media outlets, including BBC News, The Herald and Pulse as well as radio and TV news programmes across Scotland responding to government plans for neighbourhood health services and new walk-in clinics. RCGP Scotland Vice Chair Chris Williams is quoted cautioning that the proposals lack detail and risk duplicating existing GP services, noting that previous walk-in centres were not an efficient use of NHS funding.

Parkrun and preventive health

The College’s partnership with parkrun UK featured in The Sunday Times magazine, with a front page story highlighting the health benefits of community-based physical activity. RCGP lifestyle and physical activity lead Hussain Al-Zubaidi highlighted the role of social prescribing and preventative approaches in improving physical and mental health, particularly for people living with long-term conditions.

Medical training places

The College featured in Pulse and Healthcare Management coverage on proposals to prioritise UK medical graduates for training places. College Chair Victoria Tzortziou-Brown highlighted the need for a balanced, fair approach that supports UK graduates while continuing to value and retain international medical graduates who are vital to patient care.