Talking General Practice

Dr Tommy Perkins, GP partner and Medics Money co-founder, joins Andy Pow, a specialist medical accountant advising practices nationwide. They unpack the financial fallout from list cleansing, uncertain winter funding and the shift towards neighbourhoods. The discussion covers PCN incorporation, protecting locally enhanced services, rising wage costs, cash-flow strain and the scenario planning practices need before 2027.

Simon Gaisford, a UCL Professor of Pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical scientist, explores the gut microbiome and probiotics. He discusses the gut-brain axis, dysbiosis and links with conditions such as Parkinson’s. He also examines fermented foods, probiotic formulations, clinical evidence, antibiotic courses and practical advice for counselling patients.

A proposed 2.4% GP pay rise sparks concerns over inflation, staffing costs and industrial unrest. The discussion explores budget pressures, neighbourhood health plans, NHS England’s abolition and warnings about shrinking ICBs. A preview of LMC conference debates covers GP jobs, funding, PCNs and list cleaning, alongside celebrations of research and end-of-life care achievements.

Chris Provan, Aberdeen GP partner and former RCGP Scotland chair, joins policy leader Munro Stewart and professional development specialist Margaret Ikpoh. They explore continuity of care, burnout, neighbourhood healthcare and the value of expert generalism. The conversation also examines AI’s role in general practice, safe implementation, arts in medicine and what could make the profession sustainable.

Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, GP, primary care academic and RCGP president, discusses the state of general practice and its capacity crisis. She explores continuity versus access targets, investment, GP leadership, neighbourhood care, shared records and AI safeguards. She also shares plans to strengthen research, build fulfilling GP careers and protect the profession’s future.

Professor Andy Brooks, NAPC Clinical Chair and population health specialist, joins Liam Loftus, NAPC Head of Policy focused on primary care and health equity. They explore how neighbourhood care could transform general practice, why trust, relationships and local leadership matter, and the risks of multi-neighbourhood providers. They also discuss continuity of care, funding, and practical steps practices can take now.

GPs weigh up what they want from the next contract, from fairer funding and flexible online access to the future of reimbursement schemes and list cleaning. NHS delays are driving extra work in surgeries, while hospital deficits threaten plans to shift resources into neighbourhood care. Plus, a short-staffed Cumbrian practice prepares to reopen.

Dr Adrian Hayter, a Windsor GP and NICE Chief Medical Officer, discusses making guidance faster, clearer and more useful for frontline teams. He explores multimorbidity, neighbourhood care and the forthcoming Single National Formulary, alongside prescribing consistency and clinical judgement. He also examines how NICE will assess AI tools, apps and medical-grade wearables.

The GPonline team discusses the latest news affecting general practice. This week they look at the additional roles reimbursement scheme after an analysis of NHS data by Nick suggested that PCNs are starting to switch funding towards paying for more GPs and nurses as opposed to other healthcare professionals.Nick and Emma discuss the BMA England GP committee’s decision to postpone any escalation to collective action in a bid to reset its relationship with the government ahead of this year’s contract negotiations.They look at what that means and the key issues the BMA will be pushing for in this year’s contract talks.Meanwhile, this week Kimberley went to Liverpool to the Labour Party conference - she explains what the mood was like and what GPs attending the conference thought about it. And the team looks at what prime minister Andy Burnham and health and social care secretary Yvette Cooper had to say.And our good news story this week is about an innovative GP-led falls prevention initiative.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Sign up for GPonline updates with our 60-second GP email hereUseful linksARRS funding shift as PCNs prioritise doctors and nurses GPs in England postpone further action in 'reset' with governmentGPs urged to 'seize' neighbourhood model as Cooper hails improved access If hospital to community shift doesn't work - stop it, says RCGPInnovative GP-led falls scheme 'strong example' of neighbourhood benefitsThe Pharmacists’ Summit - from MIMS Healthcare NetworkTwo evenings of online learning on 30 November and 1 December for pharmacists working in primary care. For more information and to register for your free place visit:https://www.mimshealthcarenetwork.co.uk/mims-learning-live-digital-the-pharmacists-summit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Netty Kinsella, a uro-oncology nurse consultant with nearly 30 years’ experience, offers practical guidance on suspected urological cancer. Topics include risk-adapted PSA testing, prostate MRI and targeted biopsies, referral triggers for haematuria, and urgent testicular symptoms. She also explores multidisciplinary cancer care and how specialist diagnostic services support GPs.