2026/27 contract: Will mandatory A&G strip GPs of their right to refer?

How should GPs manage metabolic syndrome; and how is AI changing the complaints system?

Senior journalist Maya Dhillon is joined by Pulse editor-in-chief Jaimie Kaffash to discuss his new report on the complaints system in general practice [https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/category/special-investigations/making-complaints-work/] and his interview with chair of the BMA’s GP committee in England Dr Katie Bramall at Pulse LIVE Birmingham. Jaimie shares his white paper findings on how the fear of complaints is causing just under 80% of GPs to practise medicine ‘defensively’ [https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/special-investigations/making-complaints-work/fear-of-complaints-push-79-of-gps-to-practise-defensive-medicine/] as well as how patients are using AI [https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/special-investigations/making-complaints-work/patients-using-ai-to-send-legal-letters-to-gp-practices-says-indemnity-provider/] when making complaints. Jaimie also tells Maya about his Big Interview with Dr Bramall at Pulse LIVE Birmingham. The GPC chair revealed her fear that wholesale GMS negotiations may be off the table [https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/contract/wholesale-gms-contract-negotiations-may-be-off-the-table-says-bma-gp-committee-chair/] following Wes Streeting’s health secretary resignation, and explains her strategy for ongoing collective action against the Government. Last but not least, clinical adviser Dr Keith Hopcroft is joined by Professor Tom Barber, consultant endocrinologist and professor of endocrinology at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, to revisit his session from Pulse LIVE Birmingham on managing metabolic syndrome in general practice. Professor Barber explains what exactly metabolic syndrome is, advises GPs on they should identify patients at risk (using a measuring tape rather than scales), and how to manage the condition. Free registration for Pulse newsletters here [https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/pulse-register/]. This episode was produced by Maya Dhillon and Mollie Fraser-Andrews.

Could GPs actually go private? Why are GPs rethinking LESs? And vitamin D and calcium for fracture prevention

In this episode, the Pulse team discusses the BMA’s decision to ballot GPs in England on a ‘plan B’ or an alternative model of general practice. Pulse senior journalist Maya Dhillon is joined by deputy news editor Anna Colivicchi and editor-in-chief Jaimie Kaffash to look at where this has come from, what it shows about the profession's mood and how likely an exit from the NHS actually is. The group reflect on what 'doing a dentist' could actually look like, as well as talking to Dr Maitiú O’Faoláin - vice chair of the GP committee of the Irish Medical Organisation - about what GPs here could learn about the Republic of Ireland's mixed private and state-funded model of general practice. Editorial adviser Dr Keith Hopcroft is joined by Professor Celia Gregson, professor of clinical epidemiology and chair of the National Osteoporosis Guideline Group, to discuss new research on the use of vitamin D and calcium supplements for fracture prevention. Reporter Harry Hetherington stops by to talk about his investigation into local enhanced services across England. He explains the threefold 'LES Lottery' he uncovered through data, explaining the variation for services across ICBs and why GPs continue to carry out underfunded LESs. And we round off the episode with a quickfire clinical round-up with the biggest stories this month: the final recommendations for prostate cancer screening in the general population; a name change for polycystic ovary syndrome; and uptake in combined asthma inhalers since NICE update. Free registration for Pulse newsletters here [https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/pulse-register/]. This episode was produced by Maya Dhillon and Mollie Fraser-Andrews.

False penicillin allergies; when back pain could be cancer; and Gerada at Pulse LIVE

In this month's episode, the team reports exclusively from Pulse LIVE London. Pulse's editorial adviser Dr Keith Hopcroft takes us through his favourite clinical sessions, and Pulse editor Sofia Lind gives us the highlights from her Big Interview with Baroness Clare Gerada. Dr Hopcroft interviews Dr Stephanie Kayode, consultant allergist at the department of adult allergy at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. She explores how GPs can identify patients who are falsely labelled as having a penicillin allergy, and how GPs should go about attempting to de-label them. He then speaks to GP, locum consultant in pain and musculoskeletal medicine and NHS Northwest London musculoskeletal and diagnostics clinical lead Dr Imran Sajid, about how GPs can assess and manage back pain with or without sciatica or radiculopathy in primary care - including when it could indicate bone cancer. Lastly, Sofia and Baroness Gerada discuss the failed assisted dying bill and how it may return, what GPs can do to get policy makers to sit up and listen, and how general practice can learn to work with AI. Continue your learning by registering for our upcoming Pulse Virtual Events. These events are designed for GPs and primary care professionals seeking practical, CPD-accredited clinical updates and expert-led insights they can apply straight into everyday consultations. Taking place in May, we’ll be focusing on Chronic Conditions [https://events.cogora.com/pulsevirtual-chronic-conditions-dermatology-diabetes/register-step1?c_mkrf=editorialblurb&utm_source=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pulsetoday.co.uk%2F&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=Pvemay26_Blurb], Dermatology and Diabetes [https://events.cogora.com/pulsevirtual-chronic-conditions-dermatology-diabetes/register-step1?c_mkrf=editorialblurb&utm_source=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pulsetoday.co.uk%2F&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=Pvemay26_Blurb], and in June, Women’s Health [https://events.cogora.com/pulsevirtual-womens-health-urology-and-dermatology/register-step1?c_mkrf=editorialblurb&utm_source=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pulsetoday.co.uk%2F&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=Pvejun26_Blurb], Urology and Dermatology. [https://events.cogora.com/pulsevirtual-womens-health-urology-and-dermatology/register-step1?c_mkrf=editorialblurb&utm_source=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pulsetoday.co.uk%2F&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=Pvejun26_Blurb] We’ll also be travelling to Birmingham, Newcastle, Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast and Liverpool this year, delivering our Pulse LIVE Events. Book your free place today. [https://pulse365.uk/events/?utm_source=Editorial&utm_medium=blurb&utm_campaign=pulse365] Free registration for Pulse newsletters here [https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/pulse-register/]. This episode was produced by Maya Dhillon and Mollie Fraser-Andrews.

An expert look at semaglutide for CVD prevention; and the BMA's GP collective action dilemma

The new episode of Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs is now live and available on all podcast platforms. In this month’s episode, our team unpicks the new guidance from NICE, recommending use of weight loss drug semaglutide (Wegovy) to prevent further heart attack and stroke [https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinical-areas/cardiovascular/nice-recommends-semaglutide-injections-to-prevent-heart-attack-and-stroke/]. Pulse editorial adviser Dr Keith Hopcroft is joined by Professor Ahmet Fuat, honorary professor of primary care cardiology at Durham University and GP with extended role in cardiorenal medicine. The pair discuss the evidence base behind the recommendation, what the rollout might look like, who is eligible [https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/category/clinical-areas/cardiovascular/], who will be responsible for managing care including lifestyle support, and how it fits in with existing NICE guidance on treating patients with type 2 diabetes [https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinical-areas/diabetes-endocrinology/nice-confirms-first-line-sglt-2-prescribing-in-final-type-2-diabetes-guidance/]. Professor Fuat also considers whether semaglutide has the potential to go to be used for primary prevention in future. We round up our episode with editor Sofia Lind discussing where general practice stands following a referendum on the 2026/27 GP contract, in which 98.9% rejected the Government’s imposed changes [https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/breaking-news/gps-in-england-vote-overwhelmingly-to-reject-imposed-contract-changes/]. She tells senior journalist Maya Dhillon about ‘the difficult position’ she believes the GPC is in, as it has threatened collective action by 30 April (unless the Government pauses its implementation of ‘mandatory’ A&G) while the Government has said this may mean missing out on a primary negotiation role in new GMS contract [https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/views/editors-blog/could-gps-really-do-a-dentist/] discussions. For more information about how to attend the Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference, click here [https://events.cogora.com/cpgp-conference].  Free registration for Pulse newsletters here [https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/pulse-register/]. This episode was produced by Maya Dhillon and Mollie Fraser-Andrews.

2026/27 contract: Will mandatory A&G strip GPs of their right to refer?

Senior journalist Maya Dhillon is joined by Anna Colivicchi, deputy news editor, and Dr Keith Hopcroft, GP and editorial adviser, to analyse and explain the changes introduced by the 2026/27 GP [https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/changes-to-the-gp-contract-in-2026-27/] contract. The trio go through all the major headlines [https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/category/2026-27-gp-contract/] - including new same-day requirements around ‘clinically urgent patients', a shift in funding for a new practice-level recruitment scheme, and mandated collaboration between practices and ICBs. Anna and Keith discuss the absorption of advice and guidance (A&G) from an enhanced service into the core contract, contemplating how this 'blurs' the line between GP and specialist remit; and how this will work in practice. The discussion comes as NHS England's national director for primary care Dr Amanda Doyle wrote exclusively for Pulse last week [https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/views/guest-opinion/dr-amanda-doyle-new-ag-pathways-do-not-impact-a-gps-decision-to-refer/], explaining their rationale for the move. Keith also provides a handy overview of the changes to QOF, including the addition of two new obesity indicators and the provision of 'improvement incentives' for childhood vaccination rates. Free registration for Pulse newsletters here [https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/pulse-register/]. This episode was produced by Maya Dhillon and Mollie Fraser-Andrews.