Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs

In our first 'Big Interview' of the year, Pulse editor Sofia Lind speaks to the new chair of the RCGP, Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, to discuss the role of the college in a particularly tumultuous time for the profession.
The pair discuss the RCGP's position and approach to new-look GP contract consultations - in which the college is now involved alongside other stakeholders, as revealed exclusively by Pulse last year.
Professor Tzortziou Brown reflects on how the contract needs to change; relations with the BMA; as well as advising the Government on its new workforce strategy - with a focus on retaining experienced GPs.
She also shares her thoughts on how GPs need to be kept at the centre of the implementation of neighbourhood services as the 10-year plan is rolled out, as well as how access and continuity in general practice are not mutually exclusive.
For this month's clinical section, senior journalist Maya Dhillon is joined by Pulse clinical adviser Dr Keith Hopcroft to look over a new report suggesting that mandatory NT-proBNP testing before heart failure referral would improve diagnosis of the condition in primary care.
Their discussion focus on a much-debated report published by The Alliance for Heart Failure, which suggests that the condition is routinely being missed in primary care, and that GP practices and CDCs are not following 2010 NICE guidelines requiring the use of NT-proBNP testing to rule out heart failure.
This episode was produced by Maya Dhillon and Mollie Fraser-Andrews.
Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs is hosted on Buzzsprout but you can find it wherever you get your podcasts.
Free registration for Pulse newsletters here.
This episode was produced by Maya Dhillon and Mollie Fraser-Andrews.

Pulse editor Sofia Lind and senior journalist Maya Dhillon reflect on the recent breakdown in the relationship between the BMA and the Government following months of growing animosity between the two.
Following Pulse's exclusive reporting on the BMA losing its exclusive negotiating position for the 2026/27 GP contract, the pair look at we got to this point, and what the new stakeholder consultation model could mean for the profession.
Sofia is then joined by GP and Pulse clinical adviser Dr Keith Hopcroft to discuss whether GPs should really have a lower threshold for prescribing antibiotics in older people. This comes following the publication of England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty's annual report - this year into infectious diseases.
And to round things off, Maya and Sofia check in with general practice in Northern Ireland following their visit to Pulse LIVE Belfast last month - with clips featuring RCGP NI chair Dr Ursula Mason; and the GMC's chair and chief executive Dame Carrie McEwen and Charlie Massey.
This episode was produced by Maya Dhillon and Mollie Fraser-Andrews.
Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs is hosted on Buzzsprout but you can find it wherever you get your podcasts.
Free registration for Pulse newsletters here.
This episode was produced by Maya Dhillon and Mollie Fraser-Andrews.

This episode of Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs explores the argument for increasing deprived-area GP funding; and the opportunities and pitfalls associated with plans for menopause to be added to the NHS Health Check.
Editor-in-chief Jaimie Kaffash and features assistant Maya Dhillon discuss how GP practices with deprived patient populations should be supported, in light of the Government’s announcement of a review into the Carr-Hill funding formula.
Jaimie draws on Pulse’s award-winning ‘Lost Practices‘ investigation (mentioned by DHSC in its announcement) which showed that, on average, the GP practices that close for good are in areas with areas of higher deprivation.
The two also reflect on GP and founding member of the Scottish Deep End Project Professor Stewart Mercer’s speech at Pulse LIVE Glasgow, where he addressed delegates about how health inequalities manifest in GP consultations, and what can be done to help both patients and staff in deprived areas.
But should the Government ‘rob Peter to pay Paul’? Listen to hear the differing arguments.
Pulse clinical adviser Dr Keith Hopcroft is joined by GP and clinical associate professor in women’s health and primary care at the University of Birmingham Dr Sarah Hillman, to mull over the addition of menopause questions to NHS Health Checks.
The pair consider consider what questions should be asked and whether it will it encourage more women to take up the checks. But also whether it is necessary at all, or just a PR move.
To ensure you don’t miss any of our future podcasts, make sure you follow Pulse in Focus on whatever podcast platform you use, to keep updated with all things general practice.
This podcast is brought to you by X-on Health.
Introducing Surgery Intellect, powered by TORTUS—the AI scribe built for UK general practice. It works seamlessly in your face-to-face and telephone consultations, capturing every detail safely and accurately, without clunky shortcuts. You can now try it free for three months.
Free registration for Pulse newsletters here.
This episode was produced by Maya Dhillon and Mollie Fraser-Andrews.

To mark our major new white paper Access All Areas, we have recorded a special episode of Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs. This is now live and available on all podcast platforms.
The episode sees features assistant Maya Dhillon joined by editor-in-chief Jaimie Kaffash, who has authored the extensive report into general practice access.
Jaimie shares his findings and recommendations, calling for ministers to prioritise GP continuity of care over access; to strengthen the partnership model; and to revamp contract funding.
Notably, he argues that trust has to be restored in GPs by Government, as anything else is 'using a sledgehammer to crack a nut'.
The pair also consider how 'access' is defined and measured; what systemic barriers are preventing GPs from improving patient access; how the 1 October contract changes show the direction of travel, and more.
The report, Access All Areas, was launched at a fringe event of the Labour Party Conference and is based on a survey of 2,000 general practice staff, interviews with more than 100 and an analysis of more that 25 data sets on each practice in England.
You can find all of Pulse's coverage - including analyses, case studies and data stories - of the Access All Areas white paper here. 
To ensure you don’t miss any of our future podcasts, make sure you follow Pulse in Focus on whatever podcast platform you use, to keep updated with all things general practice.
This episode was produced by Maya Dhillon.
Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs is hosted on Buzzsprout but you can find it wherever you get your podcasts.
You can find all the data and the methodology in the full report. Click here to download the full report. GPs can download it for free.
Commercial partner of this white paper: General Practice Solutions
Free registration for Pulse newsletters here.
This episode was produced by Maya Dhillon and Mollie Fraser-Andrews.

Pulse deputy news editor Anna Colivicchi discusses the contract changes to online access coming into force on 1 October with features assistant Maya Dhillon. 
The pair look at what these changes will mean for practices, why GPs are concerned, as well as why the BMA has re-entered into dispute with the Government over it.
GP and Pulse clinical adviser Dr Keith Hopcroft returns, and explains the new NICE draft guidance for treating diabetes, which would see SGLT-2 inhibitors prescribed first-line for most diabetics – not just those with heart failure, cardiovascular disease or high cardiovascular risk as is currently the case
Also, Maya and Pulse editor Sofia Lind reflect on CQC primary care chief inspector Professor Bola Owolabi's address at Pulse LIVE Newcastle. She gave the audience an update into what CQC is up to following two damning reviews last year.
Professor Owolabi also answered our question on how the 'AI-led' inspections mentioned in the 10-year health plan will be different from the watchdog's previous 'intelligent monitoring' programme.
To ensure you don’t miss any of our future podcasts, make sure you follow Pulse in Focus on whatever podcast platform you use, to keep updated with all things general practice.
This podcast is brought to you by X-on Health.
Introducing Surgery Intellect, powered by TORTUS—the AI scribe built for UK general practice. It works seamlessly in your face-to-face and telephone consultations, capturing every detail safely and accurately, without clunky shortcuts. You can now try it free for three months.
Free registration for Pulse newsletters here.
This episode was produced by Maya Dhillon and Mollie Fraser-Andrews.