Talking General Practice

The podcast dives into the intense debate around the requirement for online consultations, spotlighting the rising workload for GPs and simmering tensions between the government and the BMA. As the England LMCs conference looms, potential industrial action is on the table. Meanwhile, good news surfaces from Scotland with a substantial funding deal for GPs. The conversation also uncovers how premises funding is being allocated in England and emphasizes practices recognized for their outstanding end-of-life 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 linksRCGP physical activity hubRCGP parkrun practicesMoving Medicine - website from Faculty of Sports and Exercise MedicineBritish Society of Lifestyle MedicineCallum’s Movement Prescription podcastAberfeldy healthiest town website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 linksGeNotes - genomics notes for cliniciansGP with extended role in clinical genetics/genomics - RCGP frameworkRCGP eLearning - Genomics toolkitRCGP position statement on direct to consumer genomics testing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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●     Health minister describes online consultation dispute as ‘phoney war’●     Government launches review of 'not fit for purpose' GP funding formula●     GPs face unsafe workload and fear neighbourhoods will make it worse, RCGP warnsSupported by SymproveThis 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 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 for more information.

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  Supported by SymproveThis 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 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 for more information.

Disputes arise as the BMA challenges the government's online access plans, questioning safety protocols. Listeners learn about workforce shortages and the delayed NHS plan, along with the need for urgent improvements in dilapidated GP premises. The BMA's survey reveals the dire conditions faced by practices. Amidst the challenges, a GP's incredible endurance run around Cornwall shines a light on early-onset dementia, raising funds and awareness for a touching cause.

This week Emma speaks to Professor Brendan Delaney, a GP in London and Professor of Medical Informatics and Decision Making at Imperial College London. Brendan’s research work covers artificial intelligence in medical diagnosis and learning health systems and he is a real expert in this field.Artificial intelligence is likely to have a huge impact across society and its role in healthcare is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years. But what will this mean in practice for GPs on the ground?In this conversation, Brendan talks about the research he is involved with that is looking at how AI can be used to support diagnosis in primary care. We also discuss whether developments in AI in medicine could de-skill doctors, the vital importance of medical device regulation when using these new tools, and the key issues of clinical liability and data security.Brendan also shares his thoughts on the government's vision for an AI-enabled NHS and how realistic this vision is as well as his hopes for how this new technology could shape general practice in the coming years. And he has advice for how GPs can prepare for a future where technology will play an even greater role in medicine.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful linksTransformer-based deep learning model for the diagnosis of suspected lung cancer in primary care based on electronic health record data - the study Brendan mentions in the interviewMore of Brendan’s research workIX - Imperial College London’s cross-department AI initiativeAI tools in general practice and liability - advice for GPsUsing AI transcribing software in general practice - medicolegal considerations Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The GPonline team discusses the key news stories affecting general practice.This week Emma and Nick talk about the BMA special representative meeting on the government’s 10-year plan, which happened last weekend. They look at what health and social care secretary Wes Streeting had to say, some of which enraged many of the GPs in attendance, as well as the key votes on motions about general practice and what BMA representatives had to say about the 10-year plan.They also discuss the roll out of neighbourhood health in England as the government announced the 43 sites that will form the first wave of its national programme to shift the NHS to this new way of working.And they look at a piece of work Nick has done over the past couple of weeks looking at the number of GPs the NHS in England needs over the coming years if it is to keep pace with the predicted population rise, including which parts of the country have the furthest to go to reach the levels required.Meanwhile Kimberley explains our good news story, which this week is about an initiative in Wales that is aiming to support women GPs into senior leadership roles.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful links●     Streeting dismisses GPs concerned over online access as 'laggards'●     BMA rejects 10-year plan and demands protection of GP model●     Can England double its GP workforce by 2040?●     Map: Which areas face the steepest GP recruitment challenge?●     Third of licensed GPs in England lost to NHS, study reveals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emma speaks to Dr Helen Thomas, a GP in Hampshire and a member of the group Healthcare Professionals for Safer Screens.Helen has been involved with developing screening tools and training resources to help clinicians identify problematic smartphone use in young people which might be affecting their mental health.In this conversation Helen explains the evidence linking excessive screen time to worsening mental health outcomes, poor sleep, and developmental delays, and highlights the harmful content algorithms push to young users.She explains why it's vital for GPs to ask about device use when consulting with young people presenting with mental health issues and the screening tools and resources that can help clinicians do this.And she discusses the wider changes needed to tackle this issue, including what the government should be doing.This conversation includes discussion of self harm and suicide.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful links Health Professionals for Safer ScreensHealth Professionals for Safer Screens resources - including screening tool, health intervention information and training worldsHow TikTok harms boys and girls differently - the Guardian video that Emma mentions in this conversationDetails of Esther Ghey’s campaign to ban smartphones in schools - from BBCJonathan Haidt’s Let Grow movement, which Helen mentions in this conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The GPonline team discusses the latest news affecting general practice. This week Emma and Nick look at the latest GP earnings and expenses data and what it tells us about income for both partners and salaried GPs and regional variations across the UK.There’s also a quick round up of some other data published last week on the GP workforce and practice workload.They also discuss the BMA’s recent analysis of the 10-year health plan and look at some of the union’s concerns with the plan - and whether some of those issues could lead GPs back into industrial dispute with the government.Our good news story this week is about the GP workforce in Scotland.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful linksGP income variation across England blamed on local funding gapsExperts question data showing double-digit GP partner income riseGeneral practice facing 'busiest summer ever' as appointments spiralNeighbourhood contracts must stop hospitals taking over GP patient lists, warns BMABMA preparing for return to GP industrial dispute as red lines ignoredScottish GP workforce reaches six-year highFor GPonline, GP Business, MIMS and MIMS Pharma practice and corporate subscribersSpecial report: The 10-year Health Plan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.