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.

8 October 2025

Chronic pain

We featured in the Daily Mail, The Independent, The Sun and a range of regional titles via PA Media responding to a BMJ study on the limited effectiveness of treating chronic pain with the opioid pain killer tramadol. Our statement explained that GPs want their patients to receive the most appropriate care, that GPs have already been advised to limit prescribing tramadol for treating chronic pain.

Covid – RSC data

Findings from the College's Research and Surveillance Centre on the rates of Covid presentations to general practice were included in the BBC, Mirror, Express, Metro, GB News, as well as a range of regional titles and on regional BBC Radio news bulletins. The data suggests that the number of reported cases is on the rise.

Headlice

Comments from Vice Chair Margaret Ikpoh were covered by BBC Newsround in a story for children looking at truths and myths about headlice.

GP recruitment

RCGP Scotland Chair Chris Provan featured in The Sunday Post responding to the small number recruited by the ScotGEM - Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine - scheme which aims to boost the number of rural GPs in Scotland. Chris stated that he was still confident that the initiative will generate results and reiterated the benefits of the scheme to graduates.

RCGP Annual Conference

In advance of the RCGP Annual Conference starting tomorrow, RCGP Chair Kamila Hawthorne spoke to GPOnline's Talking General Practice podcast. She reflected on her tenure as Chair and explored the Government's 10-Year Health Plan and forthcoming 10-Year Workforce Plan.

A corresponding story highlights Kamila’s concerns for the GP partnership model without sufficient Government support for it. Read in GPOnline.

GPonline also features RCGP Wales Chair Rowena Christmas' forthcoming session at the conference, where she will speak with author Polly Morland about her book 'A Fortunate Woman, A Country Doctor's Story', of which Rowena is the subject.

29 September 2025

Women's health

We featured in The Telegraph, The Independent, The Standard and a range of regional titles with our response - submitted via PA Media - to a YouGov survey which found 70% of women felt their health concerns had not been taken seriously by their GP.

Our comment expressed the College's concerns at the figures and stated that all GPs are trained to have open and non-judgemental conversations with patients, and how women should feel comfortable approaching their GP team when they have a health concern

Trans healthcare

We featured in ITV News and Pulse responding to a survey of GPs from the charity TransActual asking whether they felt they had received sufficient training to support trans patients, with over two thirds saying they didn't. Our statement explained that the treatment of gender dysphoria is a specialist area of medicine and may not necessarily be within a GP's competence, unless they've received additional training, and that the College would support the development of a framework to upskill more GPs.

Covid

We secured coverage in The Telegraph on the most effective way patients can manage the symptoms of Covid, in light of rising cases of a new strain.

Older patients

We featured in Pulse responding to a study from Age UK which found that older patients are struggling to access GP services. Our comment reiterated the messaging of the Age UK report which highlighted the pressures on general practice and the importance of ensuring older patients receive joined up care with community services.

Antibiotic prescribing

We secured coverage in Pulse on the latest data on antibiotic prescribing, suggesting a fall in the past year and the good work being done by GPs. We highlighted the College’s work to support GPs to reduce prescribing and deliver more targeted prescriptions.

Our calls for greater take-up of the MMR and childhood vaccination programmes were included in a story in Pulse on the falling rate of measles cases.