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.

1 September 2025

Chickenpox vaccine

College Chair Kamila Hawthorne spoke to Times Radio (2:07:20) about the launch of the chickenpox vaccination programme in England, taking effect from January 2026. Kamila discussed the importance of the childhood vaccination programme and the risk to vulnerable patients from the condition, encouraging parents to ensure that their children are up to date and, if not, to get them vaccinated.

Our response to the announcement was covered by The i Paper, Daily Mirror and Pulse.

Covid cases

We featured in The Telegraph commenting on the rising number of Covid cases, reported by the UKHSA. Our statement gave patients who have displayed symptoms advice on how to relieve the worst effects and the importance of measures to avoid transmission.

GP pressures

RCGP Scotland Chair Chris Provan featured in the Daily Record with an op-ed on the pressures facing general practice and the wider health service, calling on the Scottish government to boost investment in primary care.

GPs working overseas

We featured in Pulse responding to a survey which found that close to two thirds of UK GPs have considered working abroad, citing increased pay and better conditions as motivating factors. Our response stressed the need for urgent action to encourage GPs to stay in the profession through the funding of national and local retention schemes.

28 August 2025

GP workforce

RCGP Scotland secured proactive coverage on BBC News ahead of the publication of Scotland's GP Workforce Survey. The feature involved an interview between a patient and RCGP Scotland Chair Chris Provan at his practice in Aberdeen. Both Chris and Vice Chair Chris Williams discussed the findings of the survey on BBC Good Morning Scotland and multiple BBC drivetime radio shows.

RCGP Scotland's response to the survey was reported by a range of trade and national print outlets including The Times Scotland, The Scotsman and The National Newspaper.

AI in primary care

We featured in Pulse and Digital Health responding to a study which suggested that AI outperformed GPs in clinical exams based on the MRCGP's Applied Knowledge Test. Our comment pushed back on the findings, highlighting the limitations of the trial in only examining one aspect of the three-part assessment.

GP unemployment

A recent College story on the number of GP registrars expected to CCT in 2025 was cited in a story by Pulse on difficulties facing newly qualified GPs in finding appropriate employment.