Talking General Practice

Emma speaks to Patrick Denston about how GP practices can make the best use of new tech and what the next five years could hold.
Patrick is a PCN digital transformation and change manager and a practice business manager based in Farnborough, Hampshire, as well as an NHS England AI peer ambassador.
He has a proven track record of successfully introducing new technology into general practice. In this conversation, Patrick explains how his practice has moved away from manual, paper-based processes to embrace digital and AI tools and advanced data analytics.
He discusses how these tools are helping to improve access and address other challenges in the practice and also shares some very practical advice for other practices looking to embrace new tech, including how to navigate the busy market of tech suppliers.
Emma and Patrick also look ahead to the future of general practice, discussing the government’s 10-year plan and how AI and data-led population health management could fundamentally change the way practices operate over the next five years.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Viewpoint: How can general practice make best use of AI?
AI tools in general practice and liability - advice for GPs
Using AI transcribing software in general practice - medicolegal considerations

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Emma and Nick talk about some key news stories from the end of December and the start of this year linked to issues where we are expecting some major developments in the early part of 2026.

They talk about the 2026/27 GP contract, what the BMA and RCGP have said the contract needs to address, as well as some of their own predictions about what could happen.

They look at what comes next with neighbourhoods and how general practice can ensure it is protected against big changes that could be coming down the track.

And they discuss the impact the ongoing jobs crisis is having on the profession in England and what the government could do to address this in both the GP contract and the forthcoming workforce plan.

This week’s good news story is about the GPs and other general practice staff awarded new year honours.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Submit your case studies highlighting good work in your practice to GP Business here.

Useful links
GPs, practice nurses and practice manager recognised in New Year Honours
BMA reveals GP contract demands for 2026/27
New RCGP chair outlines college response to GP contract consultation
GPs forming huge companies to bid for neighbourhood contracts
Registrars delay qualifying as GPs amid 'bleak' job market

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Emma speaks to the new chair of the Royal College of GPs Dr Victoria Tzortziou Brown, who took on the post at the end of November.

Victoria is the first international medical graduate to chair the college and has worked as a GP in East London for 20 years.

In this conversation, Victoria sets out her priorities for her time as chair, including defining the role of general practice in a changing healthcare system, tackling workload pressures and ensuring new technology supports GPs in practice - and why the college is running a consultation with members on these key issues.

She explains why she wants to bring hope back to the profession and help make general practice a sustainable and fulfilling career once again and highlights the importance of the college championing continuity of care as part of this.

Victoria also talks about the college's relationship with the government, her views on plans for a neighbourhood NHS and the current jobs crisis facing GPs, as well as the college's ongoing campaign to secure better visa rights for IMG GP registrars.

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

Useful links
Details of the RCGP consultation on its key priorities
Low pay could force IMG GPs to quit UK, doctors warn
Quarter of GPs use AI but 'wild west' rollout sparks safety fears
Nuffield Trust/RCGP report on how GPs are using AI

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Emma speaks to Dr Vish Ratnasuriya, a GP partner and the elected chair of Our Health Partnership, one of the UK’s largest super partnerships. Vish was also recently appointed as a member of the newly formed National Commission for the Regulation of AI in Healthcare.

In this episode, Vish explains how Our Health Partnership;s ‘decentralized’ super partnership model helps support practices while retaining local autonomy. He discusses the advantages of working at scale and the shift towards neighborhood working - and shares his views on why general practice needs to lead on this work and the opportunities for moving more care out of hospitals and into the community.

He also talks about the huge role technology and AI will play in the future of the NHS. Vish explains what the new national commission aims to achieve and the vital importance of establishing clear rules on liability and safety for new technologies.

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

Useful links
Our Health Partnership
National Commission for the Regulations of AI in Healthcare
Primary Care Accelerator
West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator

Quarter of GPs use AI but 'wild west' rollout sparks safety fears
Viewpoint: How can general practice make best use of AI?

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In this special bonus episode Talking General Practice speaks to consultant nephrologist Dr Shafi Malik about the heightened risk of genetic kidney conditions among South Asian populations.

In this conversation, Dr Malik explains why patients of South Asian origin are more at risk of genetic kidney disease and how common these conditions are. He talks specifically about primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1), the symptoms patients might present with if they have this condition - including recurrent kidney stones - and, as kidney stones are a common presentation, how healthcare professionals can recognise when these cases may warrant further investigation.

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

This episode of Talking General Practice has been funded by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and produced in collaboration with GPonline. It is intended for UK healthcare professionals only.

Useful links
ThinkPH1.eu
National Kidney Federation – PH1

About Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Alnylam is a leading biopharmaceutical company and the pioneer in RNA interference (RNAi), a revolutionary approach to treating diseases which “silences” the genes that cause or contribute to them. Founded in 2002 by a group of distinguished researchers and biotech leaders, Alnylam has translated the Nobel Prize-winning science of RNAi into an innovative class of medicines, with the belief that the RNAi approach to treating disease has the potential to help people around the world live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.

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