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.

24 December 2025

Weight-loss medication

The College featured in The Sunday Times magazine’s cover story examining the increasing use of weight-loss jabs and their potential impact on health services and wider public health. Medical director of clinical policy, Adrian Hayter, made clear that whilst weight loss medication has potential to help obesity, they should not come at the expense of efforts to improve patients’ lifestyles. He emphasised that weight loss jabs are only appropriate for patients who meet specific clinical criteria and must be used alongside wider lifestyle support.

Unnecessary workload

New RCGP analysis featured in Pulse showing that unnecessary and avoidable workload is costing GP practices an estimated £410 per GP each day. RCGP Chair Victoria Tzortziou Brown is quoted warning that excessive bureaucracy, duplication and low-value administrative tasks are diverting time away from patient care and adding to already intense workload pressures.

Pressures facing IMG GPs

The College featured in GPonline commenting on reports that low pay and poor employment conditions are forcing international medical graduate (IMG) GPs to leave the UK. RCGP Chair Victoria Tzortziou Brown highlighted that many IMG GPs, despite being fully trained and ready to work, are struggling to secure stable roles risking them leaving the NHS or move overseas.

RCGP Scotland: green prescribing

A joint manifesto ‘for health and climate’ from RCGP Scotland and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society was featured in Health and Care Scotland, Pharmacy Business, The Pharmaceutical Journal and The Pharmacist. The articles highlighted the College’s role in supporting greener prescribing and raising awareness of how medicines use contributes to NHS carbon emissions.

Biological age tests

The College featured in BBC Good Food coverage around “biological age” testing and lifestyle-led anti-ageing approaches. Victoria Tzortziou Brown warned that should not be seen as a reliable measure of overall health and made clear that ageing and wellbeing are influenced by a wide range of factors, and that people concerned about their health are best supported by evidence-based advice and interventions.

18 December 2025

Flu

The College’s response to NHS England’s warning of a ‘super surge’ in flu last week was covered by the i. Elsewhere in the UK, RCGP Scotland Vice Chair Chris Williams was quoted in Scotland on Sunday and The Scotsman warning that general practice and wider NHS services are under severe strain.

In Northern Ireland, RCGPNI Chair Ursula Mason spoke to ITV News UTV about the greater number of flu cases across general practice, and how this is happening earlier in the season this year.

Rowena Christmas, RCGP Wales Chair also featured on BBC Radio Wales Breakfast (10.48 in) discussing the increasing strain seasonal illness is placing on GP practices and the wider NHS. She reiterated the College’s calls for additional support to help general practice manage winter pressures and maintain patient access to care.

AI

The joint RCGP–Nuffield Trust report, AI: how can general practice make the best use of it? featured in GPonline’s Talking General Practice podcast, the discussion included how AI is being used in general practice and the need for clear safeguards and appropriate governance.

IV vitamin drips

The College’s evidence-based approach to patient safety was reflected in Which?, which highlighted concerns around the growing use of IV vitamin drips and reinforced messages about unnecessary treatments and potential risks.

GP workforce

RCGP Wales featured on BBC Wales Today highlighting the challenges facing GPs, including rising workload, lack of resources and the knock-on impact these pressures have on patient care across Wales.

Workforce pressures were also highlighted in Pulse, which referenced the College’s work on GP unemployment in a report that GP job adverts have nearly halved since 2022, underlining ongoing recruitment and retention challenges facing general practice.

Patient care

RCGP joined other royal colleges in a collective call for better patient care and an end to fragmented services, as set out in a joint statement published by the Royal College of Physicians.
We also emphasised the college’s call for improved integration between primary and secondary care in Healthcare Management, highlighting that better coordination is essential to reduce delays, confusion, and avoidable risk for patients.