

RCP Medicine Podcast
Royal College of Physicians
The RCP Medicine podcast is a discussion of different topics relevant to physicians. Episodes discuss and explore different topics including real-life clinical cases, new evidence-based guidelines and specific physician issues in the modern healthcare environment. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the presenters and not necessarily the RCP.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 7, 2025 • 52min
Episode 86: Taking action on health and healthcare inequalities
In this episode RCP Medicine Podcast, we are joined by Dr John Dean, Clinical Vice President at the Royal College of Physicians and a physician in East Lancashire, and Dr John Ford, an academic public health doctor and Senior Clinical Lecturer at Queen Mary University. Together. They explore the multifaceted nature of health inequalities and discuss actionable steps physicians can take to address these disparities. Both share their personal experiences and professional insights into health inequalities and how it shaped their understanding of social and economic disadvantages. They discuss the structural factors within society that lead to health inequalities and emphasise the importance of creating a fairer, more inclusive society. The conversation focusses on the role of clinicians in addressing health care inequalities and the need for continuous improvement in healthcare design and delivery.ResourcesBridging the gap: a guide to making health inequalities a strategic priority for NHS leadersA snapshot of UK doctors: experiences of health inequalitiesSupporting clinicians to address health inequalities in practiceRCP view on health inequalities: a call to action for a cross-government strategyFundingThis episode was funded by Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Limited. Vertex had no involvement in the creation and elaboration of this episode and all views and opinions expressed by the presenter and guests are solely their own.RCP Links Education Events Membership Improving care Policy and campaigns RCP Social Media Instagram LinkedIn Facebook X Bluesky Music: Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas

Jun 24, 2025 • 25min
Episode 85: IBD - Crohn's disease (part 2)
In this episode of the RCP Medicine podcast, Professor Ailsa Hart and Dr Eathar Shakweh discuss how to approach managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in the acute medical setting. This is the second episode of a 2-part series, with a focus on Crohn's disease. IBD is a common condition, affecting 1 in 123 people in the UK. The 2024 State of the IBD Care in the UK report highlighted the urgent need to shorten time to diagnosis and initiate early treatment to minimise the risk of IBD-related complications. Acute and general medicine physicians have an important role to play in diagnosing and managing IBD. This podcast will equip medics at all stages of training with the necessary knowledge to approach this heterogenous and complex condition. Professor Hart is Director of IBD Research at St Mark’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom and a world-leading expert in IBD. Eathar is an IBD Clinical Research Fellow at St Mark’s and Imperial, with a special interest in perianal fistulising Crohn’s disease. Crohn's & Colitis UK (CCUK) Websitehttps://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/This is a valuable resource for patients and healthcare professionals alike, containing a wealth of information on IBD investigation and management.British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) - 2019Lamb, Christopher Andrew et al. “British Society of Gastroenterology consensus guidelines on the management of inflammatory bowel disease in adults.” Gut vol. 68,Suppl 3 (2019): s1-s106. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2019-318484https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31562236/For interested listeners, these are the national guidelines for IBD diagnosis and management. Please note, the new guidelines for 2025 are pending release.ECCO Guidelines on Therapeutics in Crohn's disease: Medical TreatmentTorres, Joana et al. “ECCO Guidelines on Therapeutics in Crohn's Disease: Medical Treatment.” Journal of Crohn's & colitis vol. 14,1 (2020): 4-22. doi:10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjz180https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38877997/ECCO Guidelines on Surgery in Crohn's disease: Surgical TreatmentAdamina, Michel et al. “ECCO Guidelines on Therapeutics in Crohn's Disease: Surgical Treatment.” Journal of Crohn's & colitis vol. 18,10 (2024): 1556-1582. doi:10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjae089https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38878002/These are the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) guidelines on therapeutics in Crohn's disease, divided into medical and surgical treatment.RCP Links Education Events Membership Improving care Policy and campaigns RCP Social Media Instagram LinkedIn Facebook X Bluesky Music: Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas

Jun 13, 2025 • 24min
Episode 84: IBD - Ulcerative colitis (part 1)
In this episode of the RCP Medicine podcast, Professor Ailsa Hart and Dr Eathar Shakweh discuss how to approach managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in the acute medical setting. This is the first episode of a 2-part series, with a focus on ulcerative colitis. IBD is a common condition, affecting 1 in 123 people in the UK. The 2024 State of the IBD Care in the UK report highlighted the urgent need to shorten time to diagnosis and initiate early treatment to minimise the risk of IBD-related complications. Acute and general medicine physicians have an important role to play in diagnosing and managing IBD. This podcast will equip medics at all stages of training with the necessary knowledge to approach this heterogenous and complex condition. Professor Hart is Director of IBD Research at St Mark’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom and a world-leading expert in IBD. Eathar is an IBD Clinical Research Fellow at St Mark’s and Imperial, with a special interest in perianal fistulising Crohn’s disease. Crohn's & Colitis UK (CCUK) Websitehttps://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/This is a valuable resource for patients and healthcare professionals alike, containing a wealth of information on IBD investigation and management.British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) - 2019Lamb, Christopher Andrew et al. “British Society of Gastroenterology consensus guidelines on the management of inflammatory bowel disease in adults.” Gut vol. 68,Suppl 3 (2019): s1-s106. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2019-318484https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31562236/For interested listeners, these are the national guidelines for IBD diagnosis and management. Please note, the new guidelines for 2025 are pending release.RCP Links Education Events Membership Improving care Policy and campaigns RCP Social Media Instagram LinkedIn Facebook X Bluesky Music: Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas

Jun 2, 2025 • 28min
Episode 83: Diarrhoea
In this episode of RCP Medicine podcasts Dr Racheal Cheek and Dr Ben Chadwick discuss a common presentation to Acute Medicine. We use this as a springboard to discuss the differences that near patient testing can make in assisting rapid diagnosis and management on the Acute Medicine Unit, and how this can influence length of stay.Dr Ben Chadwick is an Acute Medicine Consultant at Southampton General Hospital. He has a specialist interest in Medical Education and has previously been Training Programme Director for Acute Internal Medicine in Wessex and has chaired the Acute Internal Medicine Specialist Advisory Committee. He has recently been appointed to the Deputy Registrar role at the Royal College of Physicians.Dr Racheal Cheek is an Acute Internal Medicine Registrar training in Wessex. She has been Chief Resident at University Hospitals Dorset, leading projects focused on improving patient safety. She is embracing new adventures whilst currently on maternity leave. ResourcesClinical impact of syndromic molecular point-of-care testing for gastrointestinal pathogens in adults hospitalised with suspected gastroenteritis (GastroPOC): a pragmatic, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Brendish, Nathan J et al. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Volume 23, Issue 8, 945 - 955RCP Links Education Events Membership Improving care Policy and campaigns RCP Social Media Instagram LinkedIn Facebook X Bluesky Music: Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas

Apr 30, 2025 • 43min
Episode 82: Alcohol
In this episode of the RCP Medicine podcast, Rebecca Kuruvilla, a previous RCP clinical education fellow and an ST7 Clinical Pharmacology and GIM registrar talks with Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, an honorary consultant physician with a specialist interest in liver disease. They discuss the rising issue of alcohol-related harm in the UK, the impact of Covid-19 on alcohol misuse, and the role of regulation in reducing health harms. Professor Gilmore also shares insights on the changing drinking culture, the influence of the alcohol industry, and the importance of evidence-based policies to address this significant public health challenge. Professor Sir Ian Gilmore is an honorary consultant physician at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and holds an honorary chair at the University of Liverpool. With a specialist interest in liver disease, he has served as the president of the Royal College of Physicians and is the founding chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, a coalition of over 50 organizations working together to reduce the harm caused by alcohol. Professor Gilmore has been a vocal advocate for evidence-based policies to tackle alcohol misuse and has contributed significantly to public health research and policy.ResourcesAlcohol Health AllianceAlcohol advice - NHSRCP Links Education Events Membership Improving care Policy and campaigns RCP Social Media Instagram LinkedIn Facebook X Bluesky Music: Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas

Apr 8, 2025 • 44min
Episode 81: Sepsis
Dive into the complexities of patient deterioration in acute settings, focusing on a revealing case study of a 69-year-old man. Explore the significance of the NEWS2 score in balancing clinical judgment with patient assessment. Discover a systematic approach to evaluating and treating suspected sepsis using the ABCDE method. Gain insights into the vital role of blood gas analysis in management decisions. Finally, learn about navigating patient referrals to intensive care and the importance of effective communication among healthcare teams.

Mar 14, 2025 • 32min
Episode 80: Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT)
In this episode of RCP Medicine podcasts Dr Racheal Cheek and Dr Ben Chadwick discuss a challenging case of Deep Venous Thrombosis in a young patient. We discuss potential causes, and options for treatment, with reference to NICE guidance Dr Ben Chadwick is an Acute Medicine Consultant at Southampton General Hospital. He has a specialist interest in Medical Education and has previously been Training Programme Director for Acute Internal Medicine in Wessex and has chaired the Acute Internal Medicine Specialist Advisory Committee. He has recently been appointed to the Deputy Registrar role at the Royal College of Physicians.Dr Racheal Cheek is an Acute Internal Medicine Registrar training in Wessex. She has been Chief Resident at University Hospitals Dorset, leading projects focused on improving patient safety. She is embracing new adventures whilst currently on maternity leave. ReferencesEditor's Choice – European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) 2021 Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Venous Thrombosis - https://www.ejves.com/article/S1078-5884(20)30868-6/fulltextNICE: Venous thromboembolic diseases: diagnosis, management and thrombophilia testing - https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng158RCP Links Education Events Membership Improving care Policy and campaigns RCP Social Media Instagram LinkedIn Facebook X Bluesky Music: Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas

Feb 7, 2025 • 1h 20min
Episode 79: Understanding Behavioural Science to Address Health Inequalities
In this episode of the RCP Medicine Podcast, Dr. Rohan Mehra, an Infectious Diseases/Microbiology SPR, discusses the critical role of behavioural science in addressing health inequalities. Decreased vaccine uptake and lack of engagement with healthcare services are pressing issues, particularly among those affected by health disparities. To shed light on these challenges, Rohan is joined by Professor Susan Michie, a leading expert in health psychology and behaviour change from University College London. With her extensive research and practical expertise, Professor Michie explores how we can apply behavioural science to improve healthcare engagement and design effective interventions. Tune in to discover how understanding human behaviour can drive meaningful change in health outcomes.References:A synthesis of evidence for policy from behavioural science during COVID-19, Ruggeri et al.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06840-9The human behaviour change project www.humanbehaviourchange.orgComplex Systems for Sustainability and Health https://www.ucl.ac.uk/complex-urban-systems/cussh.Behaviour Change Wheel: A Guide to Designing Interventions www.behaviourchangewheel.comWHO behavioural science grouphttps://www.who.int/initiatives/behavioural-sciences RCP Links Education Events Membership Improving care Policy and campaigns RCP Social Media Instagram LinkedIn Facebook X Bluesky Music: Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas

Dec 20, 2024 • 32min
Episode 78: Stroke and neurology
In this episode of RCP medicine podcast, Dr Zeina Al-Matlik is joined by Dr John Williamson, a consultant Neurologist and Stroke Physician working in Liverpool, to discuss one of the leading causes worldwide for disability - Strokes. Whether you are a healthcare provider, caregiver, or a stroke survivor, this podcast covers everything you need to know about the vital ins and outs of stroke. This episode unpacks essential topics such as recognizing the warning signs of strokes and acting FAST, ( Face, Arm, Slurred speech, Time - acronym used for identification of potential stroke), understanding the difference between TIAs ( Transient Ischemic Attacks) and Ischemic and haemorrhagic strokes and their managements, prevention of strokes including lifestyle and medical modifications of risk factors, and finally discussing common Stroke mimics and how to recognize them. Listeners will also get a chance to explore the latest breakthrough advancements and guidelines in stroke research and treatments such as life saving thrombolysis - also known as clot busting medication and thrombectomies - whereby a catheter is inserted into blood vessel to help retrieve and remove clots.This episode is designed to educate, empower, and provide practical tips for both healthcare providers and patients to spread awareness, understand strokes and take prompt action to improve outcomes as Time is brain. 🧠 ResourcesNational Clinical Guideline for Stroke for the UK and Ireland - https://www.strokeguideline.org/Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) - https://neurosymptoms.org/en/RCP Links Education Events Membership Improving care Policy and campaigns RCP Social Media Instagram LinkedIn Facebook X Bluesky Music: Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas

Nov 29, 2024 • 52min
Episode 77: Sustainable QI
In this episode of RCP Medicine podcasts, Dr Rebecca Kuruvilla discusses Sustainability in Quality Improvement, also known as the SusQI Framework with Dr Ayoma Ratnappuli. Ayoma is an HIV/Genitourinary Medicine specialist registrar working in South London has an out of programme experience with the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare as an Education Fellow, a role she now continues with alongside her clinical training. The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare works to embed and spread SusQI into undergraduate and postgraduate education as well as healthcare delivery organisations The SusQI Framework aims to deliver the best possible health outcomes with minimal financial and environmental costs whilst adding positive social value at every opportunity. This framework has been pioneered by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare. During their conversation Ayoma breaks down the steps of the SusQI framework, explains the benefits of using this alongside traditional QI methodology, and explores an example of one of Rebecca’s own QI projects and how it could be adapted to add more sustainable value.Resources CSH Courses Courses | Centre for Sustainable Healthcaree-learning for Health – Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare - elearning for healthcare (e-lfh.org.uk)SusQI.org (step by step guide) Step-by-step guide | Centre for Sustainab (susqi.org)Greener NHS Greener NHS (england.nhs.uk)CSH Resource Library Resource library | Sustainable Healthcare Networks HubCSH Networks Networks | Sustainable Healthcare Networks HubThis episode was funded by Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Limited. Vertex had no involvement in the creation and elaboration of this episode and all views and opinions expressed by the presenter and guests are solely their own.RCP Links Education Events Membership Improving care Policy and campaigns RCP Social Media Instagram LinkedIn Facebook X Bluesky Music: Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas


