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.

4 June 2025

Artificial intelligence

We secured coverage in Pulse and GPonline highlighting the Joint GP IT Committee’s (which includes RCGP) concerns - raised with NHS England - on the use of patient medical data, intended for Covid research, to train Foresight AI. Our statement explained that the JGPITC has called for a pause on data processing in this way, highlighting that patients need to be able to trust that their personal data is not being used beyond what they've given permission for.

Conflict in the Middle East

The College's open letter to Foreign Secretary, David Lammy MP, calling for action to address the escalating healthcare crisis in Gaza was covered in GPonline and Pulse.

Read our letter

Paediatric cancer

RCGP Scotland Vice Chair Dr Chris Williams featured in The Sunday Post (print) responding to a study on the diagnosis of childhood cancer. Chris' comments detailed that GPs are well prepared to consult about potential cancer symptoms as part of the GP curriculum and that there can be significant challenges in diagnosing paediatric cancers.

Supplements

We featured in Which? in a feature on supplements with comment on the importance of a varied and balanced diet in ensuring patients get the nutrition they need for their physical health.

Whole person care

RCGP Scotland’s latest paper Whole person medical care: the value of the GP featured on BBC Parliament when it was raised in a discussion with Neil Gray, NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care Secretary in the Scottish Parliament.

28 May 2025

10 Year Health Plan

Kamila Hawthorne was quoted in the Health Service Journal responding to rumours the 10-Year Health Plan may include the segmentation of primary care services. She said this must not be done in a way that detracts from general practice being the universal front door to the health service, and if it did, it would make little sense given the Government’s aim to ‘bring back the family doctor’.

Care of patients in secure environments

Chair of the College’s Secure Environments Group Caroline Watson spoke to GPOnline’s Talking General Practice podcast on her experience as a GP working in prisons. Alongside the challenges of working in secure environments, Caroline discussed the complexities of prescribing in prisons and the common health issues seen among patients.

GP contract

RCGPNI's response to their contract being imposed and riposte to a speech by Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, in which he criticised GPs, achieved coverage in The Irish News and Belfast News Letter.

Exercise in middle age

RCGP Physical Activity Lead Hussain Al-Zabaidi featured in The Herald and a range of regional publications with comment on a story from Age UK – as part of their ‘Act Now to Age Better’ campaign - on the importance of exercise, and the best types, for patients in their 50s.

GP workforce

RCGP Scotland’s warnings over the limited workforce capacity of GPs in Scotland was included in a story in The Telegraph (print) on the average number of patients per GP practice.

Physician associates

Pulse covered a meeting between the College and Gillain Leng - the Chair of the Government’s safety review of physician associates. RCGP Chair Kamila Hawthorne was quoted explaining the RCGP’s position of opposition to the role of PAs in general practice.

Covid vaccinations

RCGP President Richard Vautrey spoke to BBC Radio Leeds on the importance of getting the NHS Covid vaccine for those in high-risk groups who have been offered it (those over 75, live in a care or residential home or have immunosuppression).