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 July 2025

10 Year Health Plan - NHS App

College Chair Kamila Hawthorne spoke to BBC Radio 4's Today Programme (1:21:30) and Times Radio (03:30) to discuss plans to expand the use and functions of the NHS App as part of the 10-Year Health Plan. She spoke about the potential of tech and AI but made clear that we need to fix basic IT in general practice first – she also discussed the right for patients to a same-day appointment via the app by 2028 and stressed the need for thousands more GPs before this can be achieved.

Our reaction to the announcement featured in The Times, Mirror, Pulse, GPonline and The BMJ.

Read our full response

10 Year Health Plan - Neighbourhood Health Services

Our reaction to the launch of the Government’s 10-Year Plan – specifically the roll out of neighbourhood health centres - featured in BBC News, inews, Pulse and GPonline.

Our response supports the aspiration of the plan to expand community care, which may build on the existing work of services, while reiterating the need for clear plans on funding and resources to back this up.

Read our full response

Air pollution

Following our exclusive in The Guardian, our story on the link between air pollution and the rise in asthma attacks reported in general practice was discussed on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Hereford and Worcester.

Exercise in middle age

RCGP Physical Activity Lead Hussain Al-Zabaidi featured in The Herald and a range of regional publications discussing the importance of exercise in later life as part of Age UK's ‘Act Now to Age Better’ campaign.

1 July 2025

Air pollution

Data from the College’s Research and Surveillance Centre showing a 45% increase in asthma presentations in general practice featured in the Guardian over the weekend, alongside calls to expand clean air zones and for plans to cut air pollution to be included in the 10 Year Health Plan, due for publication this week. The story was also covered on LBC – and London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan posted about the story on X. Read in full on the College’s News section.

10 Year Health Plan

The College’s vision for what the forthcoming 10 Year Health Plan needs to include in order to be successful, sustainable and work for patients has been published in BJGP Life.

The College’s call for a primary care investment standard to be included in the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan featured in Pulse. The College has recently published a summary of what it needs to see in the 10YHP for it to be a success

Heatwaves

Advice from RCGP Chair Kamila Hawthorne on staying safe in the heat and sun as temperatures have reached 30+ degrees over the last few days has appeared in the Daily Mail, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People (all print only)

Decriminalisation of abortion

The College’s support for decriminalisation of abortion and its response to this being passed by Parliament a couple of weeks ago has featured in the BMJ.