Talking General Practice

The importance of promoting physical activity in primary care

Emma speaks to GP Dr Callum Leese about the importance of physical activity and how primary care professionals can promote it to their patients. Callum is a GP in Aberfeldy, Scotland, and also works at the University of Dundee, where his research focuses on physical activity promotion and implementation in primary care. He is also the Royal College of GPs co-lead for physical activity. In this conversation, Callum talks about his research, including work with the WHO looking at physical activity promotion in policy across Europe, and RCGP initiatives like the Active Practice Charter and parkrun practices and how these can benefit both patients and staff. He offers advice for GPs on how to raise the issue of physical activity in consultations and discusses the importance of tailoring exercise advice to patients with specific health conditions. He also talks about a fantastic initiative he’s involved with, which is aiming for his home town of Aberfeldy to become the healthiest town in Scotland, and his work with the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine, where he leads the physical activity special interest group. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links RCGP physical activity hub [https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/page/view.php?id=12583] RCGP parkrun practices [https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/view.php?id=723] Moving Medicine [https://movingmedicine.ac.uk/] - website from Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine British Society of Lifestyle Medicine [https://bslm.org.uk/] Callum’s Movement Prescription podcast [https://themovementprescription.co.uk/] Aberfeldy healthiest town website [https://www.healthiesttown.org/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

How will genomics change medicine in general practice?

This week we look at the rapidly advancing field of genomics, which is becoming increasingly relevant to everyday primary care. Emma speaks to Dr Jude Hayward and Dr Imran Rafi, who are the Royal College of GPs’ joint clinical representatives for genomics. Jude is a GP with an extended role in genomic medicine and Imran is a reader in primary care and genomics at St. George's University in London. Jude and Imran discuss the most significant changes genomics is set to bring over the next decade, including its potential use in predicting risk for common conditions, rise of pharmacogenomics and whether the government’s 10-year plan’s vision for the role of genomics is realistic. They also talk about some of the practical challenges facing GPs, such as how to handle patients presenting with results from direct-to-consumer genetic tests, the ethical considerations around data and consent, and the importance of ensuring advances in genomics help to narrow rather than widen health inequalities. And they also explore the opportunities for GPs to develop an extended role in this fascinating area of medicine. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links GeNotes - genomics notes for clinicians [https://www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk/about-us/genotes-genomic-notes-for-clinicians/] GP with extended role in clinical genetics/genomics [https://www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-extended-roles/introduction-clinical-genetics-genomics] - RCGP framework RCGP eLearning - Genomics toolkit [https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/book/view.php?id=12892] RCGP position statement on direct to consumer genomics testing [https://www.rcgp.org.uk/representing-you/policy-areas/genomic-position-statement] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

RCGP conference: Minister rejects online access fears, securing GP investment, valuing GP continuity

GPonline is the media partner for the RCGP annual conference and this is the second of two special episodes of Talking General Practice from the event Newport in Wales this week. In this episode we look at what health minister Stephen Kinnock said about overhauling the Carr-Hill formula and the BMA dispute over online consultations and what delegates thought about this. We also highlight what RCGP chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne had to say in her speech about primary care funding and GP retention. Emma talks to RCGP vice chairs Professor Margaret Ikpoh and Dr Thomas Patel-Campbell about the results of the college’s latest member survey, the importance of investing in primary care and how the increase in anti-immigration and right-wing rhetoric is affecting GPs. She also speaks to RCGP Wales chair Dr Rowena Christmas about being the subject of a book that tells the story of rural general practice and the college’s manifesto for next year’s Senedd elections and talks to outgoing RCGP president Dr Richard Vautrey. Useful links ●     Find all of GPonline’s coverage from this week’s conference at gponline.com/rcgp [http://gponline.com/rcgp] ●     Health minister describes online consultation dispute as ‘phoney war’ [https://www.gponline.com/health-minister-describes-online-consultation-dispute-phoney-war/article/1935602] ●     Government launches review of 'not fit for purpose' GP funding formula [https://www.gponline.com/government-launches-review-not-fit-purpose-gp-funding-formula/article/1935492] ●     GPs face unsafe workload and fear neighbourhoods will make it worse, RCGP warns [https://www.gponline.com/gps-face-unsafe-workload-fear-neighbourhoods-will-worse-rcgp-warns/article/1935186] Supported by Symprove This episode of Talking General Practice has been supported by Symprove. Based on an external survey of 432 healthcare professionals, Symprove was the number one probiotic, recommended by gastroenterologists, dietitians and GPs. The unique water-based solution delivers live bacteria to the colon and is proven in randomised controlled trials by leading institutions. 92% of people report a benefit within 12 weeks in real-world. Healthcare professionals can trial Symprove for free. Visit professionals.symprove.com [https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fprofessionals.symprove.com&c=E,1,JZ4V9Ncf50LLZceLoC5Vky0d9WhLZAnzWxVIm_bT40EJq1TyC_uwbExpHe0YtlbKKDtWK71X4cr-j5Ee81I858ntOmgb6dQQvZv1RojW4oPMsjDd2u3uJO1TcL6r&typo=1] and sign up for a virtual meeting to hear more about the research behind Symprove and get your free 12-week pack. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne on GP retention, partnerships and three years as RCGP chair

Emma speaks to Royal College of GPs chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne ahead of the RCGP’s annual conference in Newport in Wales, which starts on Thursday this week. GPonline is the media partner for the annual conference, and this is the first of two episodes that we’ll be producing from the event. Kamila is nearing the end of her three years as RCGP chair and in this interview, she reflects on the highs and lows of her time in the post. She talks about the experiences of dealing with multiple health secretaries and navigating the contentious issue of physician assistants in general practice. She also discusses the government's 10-year health plan and what it could mean for general practice, her fears about the future of the partnership model, and what the RCGP wants to see in the new NHS workforce plan. And she explains why she believes there is still a bright future for general practice despite the challenges. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Read all of GPonline’s coverage from the RCGP annual conference this week at https://www.gpponline.com/rcgp [https://www.gpponline.com/rcgp]     Supported by Symprove This episode of Talking General Practice has been supported by Symprove. Based on an external survey of 432 healthcare professionals, Symprove was the number one probiotic, recommended by gastroenterologists, dietitians and GPs. The unique water-based solution delivers live bacteria to the colon and is proven in randomised controlled trials by leading institutions. 92% of people report a benefit within 12 weeks in real-world. Healthcare professionals can trial Symprove for free. Visit professionals.symprove.com [https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fprofessionals.symprove.com&c=E,1,JZ4V9Ncf50LLZceLoC5Vky0d9WhLZAnzWxVIm_bT40EJq1TyC_uwbExpHe0YtlbKKDtWK71X4cr-j5Ee81I858ntOmgb6dQQvZv1RojW4oPMsjDd2u3uJO1TcL6r&typo=1] and sign up for a virtual meeting to hear more about the research behind Symprove and get your free 12-week pack. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Why online access triggered a new GP dispute, workforce plan priorities, GP premises crisis

This week Emma and NIck talk about the BMA’s decision to re-enter dispute with the government in England, the online access plans that have led us to this point and what both the BMA and the government have to say about all of this. They also look at what re-entering dispute could mean for the profession. They talk about the upcoming NHS workforce plan, which is due to be published before the end of the year after the government launched a call for evidence. And they discuss the BMA’s latest survey on the state of GP premises and what’s required to fix the crumbling primary care estate. Our good news story this week is about a GP who has this week been attempting to break the record for running round the perimeter of Cornwall in an effort to raise money and awareness of early-onset dementia, which has affected her mum. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Complete our survey looking at online access and other issues affecting GPs here [https://surveys.haymarket.com/s3/GPonline-opinion-survey-October-2025]   Useful links Dr Elsey Davis fundraising page [https://givestar.io/gs/circuit-of-cornwall] Track Dr Davis’s progress [https://live.adventuretracking.be/circuit-of-cornwall] GPs are standing up for patient safety by declaring dispute, says BMA [https://www.gponline.com/gps-standing-patient-safety-declaring-dispute-says-bma/article/1934569] Streeting dismisses GP fears over online access as 'forces of conservatism' [https://www.gponline.com/streeting-dismisses-gp-fears-online-access-forces-conservatism/article/1934204] Government 'mystified' over GP stance on online access [https://www.gponline.com/government-mystified-gp-stance-online-access/article/1934227] Mouldy, cracked and cramped: BMA poll exposes GP premises crisis [https://www.gponline.com/mouldy-cracked-cramped-bma-poll-exposes-gp-premises-crisis/article/1933297] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.