In the health news

Publication date: 14 May 2025

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.

14 May 2025

Assisted dying

RCGP Chair Kamila Hawthorne spoke to BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme (2:42:30) and to BBC Radio 5 Live (2:09:10) on the Assisted Dying Bill, in advance of the Report Stage which is set to take place in the Commons later this week. Kamila outlined the College’s position agreed at the last UK Council - of neither supporting nor opposing assisted dying being legal – highlighting that any introduction of assisted dying will need to be a standalone service and not part of general practice, and not come at the expense of palliative care provision.

Our response to BBC polling on GPs’ attitudes to assisted dying - which stated that the bill must address GP concern around the practical and legal implications - was covered by BBC Online, ITV Online, The Standard, The Times, the Telegraph, Mail Online, Press Association, as well as BBC Breakfast and syndicated to regional TV channels. The story was also included on news packages and bulletins across BBC national and local radio stations.

You can find our responses on our website to the:

Weight-loss drugs

We featured in The Guardian, The Express as well as stories with both The Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph responding to a study which found that weight-loss medications – primarily Mounjaro and Wegovy – can reduce cravings for alcohol and could act as a potential treatment for alcohol use disorder. Our statement explained that while it’s important that these findings are considered as clinical guidelines for weight-loss jabs are developed, the medication should not be seen as a silver bullet for either weight-loss or to suppress cravings for alcohol.

6 May 2025

GP infrastructure

We secured coverage on LBC News (03:21:30) and Good Morning Britain - as well as a range of regional ITV services - with interviews given by Kamila Hawthorne responding to the DHSC’s latest funding commitment of £102 million for general practice infrastructure. Kamila’s interview given to LBC was also syndicated across other Global radio services including Heart FM and Capital FM.

In addition, our response to the announcement, citing the findings of the College’s GP Voice survey – that 2 in 5 GPs report that their physical infrastructure is inadequate - was covered by in the I Paper (print), The Guardian and The Sun. This line was also used by a range of BBC TV and Radio services, including BBC Breakfast, Radio 4, Radio 2 and Radio 5 Live. In total, we generated over a thousand media mentions across radio and TV. You can read our full response to the news on our website.

National insurance increase

RCGP Wales Chair Rowena Christmas featured in a story by BBC News on the expected financial impact on GP surgeries of the rise in national insurance, detailing the additional costs that will face her practice in Monmouthshire. The story was also covered by BBC 1 Wales and BBC Radio Wales.

Weight-loss drugs

We featured in the Daily Mail (and in print) - the story was also covered by LBC News - responding to the upcoming roll-out of weight-loss medications in primary care. Our comment highlighted that this roll-out will need to be routinely evaluated to ensure prescriptions are of benefit to patients, and that the wider use of this medication should not come at the expense of other weight-loss services.

Patient records

We secured coverage in The Guardian responding to a study by Healthwatch England which found that one in four patients found errors in their medical records. Our statement highlighted the enormous pressures on GPs and their teams, as well as the inadequate state of GP IT infrastructure, and how these can contribute to administrative mistakes. You can read our full response on our website.

Pharmacy First

We featured in Which? with comment on the extent to which community pharmacists can relieve the pressures on GPs. Our response outlined that both professions are under pressure and while Pharmacy First could extend the existing cooperation between GPs and pharmacists, it should not be seen as a silver bullet.