Talking General Practice

In this bonus episode of Talking General Practice Dr Netty Kinsella, uro-oncology nurse consultant and clinical lead for urology cancer diagnostics and active surveillance at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, speaks to GPonline editor Emma Bower about urological cancer.

Netty explains what makes the Royal Marsden's urology diagnostic service unique, and provides essential guidance for GPs on when to refer patients with suspected urological cancer.

She talks about the latest on prostate cancer screening, including the National Screening Committee’s recent recommendation for a targeted programme, and how GPs should approach risk-adapted PSA testing. Netty also shares key insights into the role of MRIs, advanced biopsy technologies, and provides advice on managing haematuria and urgent testicular presentations in primary care.

This episode was produced by Czarina Deen.

This episode of the podcast has been sponsored by The Royal Marsden Private Care.

About The Royal Marsden Private Care
The Royal Marsden opened in 1851 as the world's first hospital dedicated to cancer diagnosis, treatment, research, and education. Today, it operates as a specialist cancer centre and, working closely with its principal academic partner, the Institute of Cancer Research, is ranked among the top four institutions globally for the impact of its research. As a centre of excellence, The Royal Marsden pioneers the latest cancer treatments and technologies while leading the way in innovative cancer diagnosis, research, and education.

As a specialist cancer centre, The Royal Marsden has the clinical expertise, facilities and technology to provide the very highest levels of private cancer care. Every cancer is different, and their multidisciplinary teams, consisting of over 2,500 world-leading cancer experts, provide patients with personalised and bespoke treatment plans.

NHS and Private Care services are provided in parallel at The Royal Marsden, ensuring clinical need and urgency is prioritised over NHS or private status. Revenue generated by private care is reinvested back into the hospital, for the benefit of everyone. Find out more about this unique care model, including how revenue generated by Private Care is reinvested into the hospital, here: royalmarsden.nhs.uk/our-care-model.

The Royal Marsden Private Care operates across sites in Chelsea and Sutton, a Medical Day Unit at Kingston Hospital, as well as a diagnostic and treatment centre at Cavendish Square in central London.

Find out more about The Royal Marsden’s cancer services: royalmarsden.nhs.uk/private-care/londonGP.


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This week Emma speaks to Dr Stephanie Cook, clinical lead for the Women's Health Hubs in Liverpool, a GP with a special interest in women's health, and a director of the Primary Care Women's Health Society.
Stephanie discusses how women’s health hubs can bring care closer to home, slash waiting times, and help tackle health inequalities - and explains how the Liverpool hub model works in practice,
We also discuss the systemic barriers facing women’s health services, including the lack of sustainable funding, the impact of removing women's health from the NHS planning guidance, and the importance of moving care from hospitals and into the community.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Renewed Women's Health Strategy for England
Primary Care Women’s Health Society women’s health hub toolkit

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Emma speaks with Dr Ruth Abrams, an organisational psychologist and associate professor at the University of Surrey School of Health Sciences , about her recent research published in the BJGP on the conditions in which women GPs thrive.

Ruth discusses why women GPs experience disproportionate rates of stress and lower career progression. She talks about the medical gender pay gap and outlines five practical actions individual GP practices can take right now to foster a fairer, more flexible, and supportive environment.

Ruth also highlights critical gaps in current research and explains why we need national, systemic policy changes to ensure workforce sustainability, rather than simply telling individuals to be more resilient.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links
Investigating the conditions in which women GPs thrive in General Practice: A realist review - Ruth’s paper in the BJGP
Workplace Thriving - the website Ruth mentions in this conversation
Easing parenting challenges in primary care workforce - an article by Ruth in the BMJ

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This week Emma, Nick and Kimberley look at the government’s 10-year health plan one year on and ask how much progress has been made, whether it is on track and what needs to happen next. They also talk about PCN contract variations after every practice in Kent signed up to the first deal of this kind.

They look at GP premises after the government announced its 10-year capital investment plan for the NHS and NHS England chair Dr Penny Dash angered GPs after saying that GP practices have ‘twice as much floor space’ as they need. They also discuss some of the challenges of getting new premises developments off the ground.

And they look at whether or not the GP jobs crisis is beginning to ease as thousands of GP registrars prepare to qualify in the coming weeks.

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
One year on, is the 10-year health plan on track?
Kent DES variation hands GPs ARRS cash upfront
AI triage rollout fast-tracked for GP surgeries
GP premises fund falls short of upgrade target
GP fury as NHS boss claims practices have twice the space they need
'There aren't enough jobs': new GPs face waiting lists for shifts

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Emma speaks to BMA England GP committee chair Dr Katie Bramall about her decision not to stand for re-election when her three-year term ends this month and the highs and lows of her time in the role.

Katie reflects on an extraordinary three years for general practice, including navigating challenging GP contract negotiations during a tight funding climate and leading historic collective action by the profession.

She explains the personal and organisational reasons behind her decision to pass on the baton, and how she managed the intense internal and external challenges facing the committee.

Katie also outlines what her departure means for the ongoing dispute with the government, updates us on the next phases of collective action, and shares her advice for her successor as well as her hopes for the future of general practice.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links
GPs to refuse shared care agreements in third phase of collective action
BMA to ballot GPs on switch to 'Plan B' semi-private contract



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