RCGP eLearning Podcast

In this podcast, Dr Emma Nash talks to Professor Tony Avery, GP, Professor of Primary Health Care at the University of Nottingham, and National Clinical Director for Prescribing. Key points from the two prescribing safety modules are touched on, in the context of the Medicines Safety Improvement Programme (MedSIP) and there is discussion of how medication safety has progressed over the years. Current priorities, national drivers for change, optimising safer systems and safer use of high-risk medicines, are described as well as potential developments on the horizon. 

Financial support for this programme was provided from Pfizer Limited. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Diagnosing cancer in primary care is difficult. Many patients present with non-specific symptoms and the positive predictive value of even the ‘red flag’ symptoms is low. In this podcast, Dr Thomas Round and Professor Willie Hamilton discuss the issues around cancer diagnosis in primary care, including the positive predictive value of symptoms, the increasing number of two-week wait referrals and the usefulness of tests such as Ca125. 

Financial support for the project was provided as an Independent Medical Education Grant from Pfizer Limited. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

In this podcast, Dr Emma Nash talks to Professor Derek Connolly about cardiovascular disease and lipid management. Measuring and interpreting lipid profiles and when to initiate treatment are discussed. Professor Connolly takes us through the various treatment options and their respective benefits, in light of the updated lipid pathway, and illustrates the benefits that they can have on cardiovascular risk, both in terms of primary and secondary prevention.

Dr Emma Nash DOI: https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/bio/teacher.php?id=4205
Prof Derek Connolly DOI: https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/bio/teacher.php?id=168787

An educational grant was received from Amarin UK Limited for the production of this resource. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

To learn more about Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) please access the newly designed RCGP Inflammatory Bowel Disease Toolkit, which allows users to learn about IBD through different formats including three bite-sized NUBs - New Useful Bits, a 30 minute module and a recorded podcast. The toolkit provides tips to help those working in Primary Care suspect, investigate, and refer patients for appropriate investigations. It also summarises key information to consider when supporting patients living with IBD.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a lifelong condition which can impact on many areas of a person’s life. In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell and Dr Kevin Barrett discuss how we can diagnose inflammatory bowel disease at an earlier stage and make logical use of the tests available to us. They then go on to discuss the management of flares of the disease and holistic care for patients with IBD, at all stages of life. 

This podcast was funded by Crohn's & Colitis UK. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP eLearning.

In this podcast we talk to Dr David Kernick about the relationship between women's health and migraine. The effect of hormones and changes to the pattern of migraines throughout life are explored, and the relevance of migraines in the prescription of contraception and hormone replacement therapy is also discussed.

In this podcast we talk to Dr David Kernick about migraine treatments and the availability of newer medications to help manage uncontrolled symptoms. Both preventative and therapeutic options are explored, in conjunction with discussion about the roles of primary and secondary care. 

In this podcast, Dr Nicholas Jones, GP cardiologist, academic GP and Wellcome Trust Doctoral Research Fellow, discusses heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Left ventricular function in HFpEF is normal, or near normal - that is, 50% or greater - but with symptoms that we recognise as being of heart failure. He talks about recognising and diagnosing the syndrome, along with potential treatment options and emerging evidence on effective therapies for symptoms control and prognostic benefit.

Practices are well into the flu vaccination season by now, but how often do we actually stop and think about what is in the vaccinations that we give, and how we know when flu is circulating? Dr Toni Hazell talks to Professor Simon de Lusignan of the RCGP Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC). They discuss the strains of flu that are in the vaccine, our expectations for uptake this year and why we have moved to a quadrivalent vaccine. Simon also talks about the work of the RSC, who are always looking for more practices to be part of their network. If you would like to enquire about joining the RCGP Research and Surveillance Centre, please email [email protected]

You can view the RSC's Virology Dashboard here: https://tinyurl.com/34p2xjbb

CSL Seqirus has funded these podcasts and has been involved in discussion for the topic of this podcast. The content has been prepared independently by the RCGP without any input from CSL Seqirus. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals and is disseminated by media determined by the RCGP.

This podcast was recorded in November 2022, reflecting guidance for the 2022/23 flu season. The general principles will still be relevant, but for exact information reflecting the latest guidance for the 2023-24 season please go to the RCGP's Influenza eLearning modules.

In this podcast Dr George Kassianos (National Immunisation Lead for the RCGP and President of the British Global & Travel Health Association) chats with Dr Dirk Pilat (Medical Director for Professional Development of the RCGP), about the importance of immunising pregnant patients, the choice available and its benefits. Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 and the benefits of the various vaccines available for pregnant patients are discussed.

CSL Seqirus has funded these podcasts and has been involved in discussion for the topic of this podcast. The content has been prepared independently by the RCGP without any input from CSL Seqirus. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals and is disseminated by media determined by the RCGP.

This podcast was recorded in September 2022, reflecting guidance for the 2022/23 flu season. The general principles will still be relevant, but for exact information reflecting the latest guidance for the 2023-24 season please go to the RCGP's Influenza eLearning modules.

The menopause marks the permanent end to the reproductive phase of life and happens at an average age of 51. Symptoms can be significant and affect many body systems. In this podcast, Dr Anne Connolly discussed contraception in the perimenopausal years, the management of a woman who has had some relief with HRT but continues to have symptoms of the menopause, and when the use of testosterone might be indicated. 

There continues to be questions raised around flu vaccination during pandemic times, including eligibility and whether multiple vaccinations can be given at the same time. In this podcast, Dr Dirk Pilat talks to Dr George Kassianos about the latest guidance for the 2022/2023 flu season. They cover eligibility for different age groups, vaccine hesitancy and the guidance around co-administration.

CSL Seqirus has funded these podcasts and has been involved in discussion for the topic of this podcast. The content has been prepared independently by the RCGP without any input from CSL Seqirus. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals and is disseminated by media determined by the RCGP.

This podcast was recorded in August 2022, reflecting guidance for the 2022/23 flu season. The general principles will still be relevant, but for exact information reflecting the latest guidance for the 2023-24 season please go to the RCGP's Influenza eLearning modules.

The 2022/23 flu season is fast approaching, bringing with it all the usual questions about who gets which vaccine and how to best organise a vaccination programme. In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell talks to Dr. Sally Higginbottom, author of our eLearning module on influenza. Sally will delve into some of the practicalities of running a successful vaccination programme including which vaccine for which patient, what to do if patients are concerned about egg allergy or have religious concerns and which vaccines can be given at the same time as the flu vaccination.

CSL Seqirus has funded this podcast and has been involved in discussion for the topic of the podcast. The content has been prepared independently by the RCGP without any input from CSL Seqirus. These podcasts are intended for healthcare professionals and are disseminated by media determined by the RCGP.

This podcast was recorded in July 2022, reflecting guidance for the 2022/23 flu season. The general principles will still be relevant, but for exact information reflecting the latest guidance for the 2023-24 season please go to the RCGP's Influenza eLearning modules.

The National Review of Asthma Deaths (NRAD) was a groundbreaking publication which reviewed 195 UK asthma deaths, adult and child, that took place over one year. In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell talks to Dr Shuaib Nasser who contributed to the report. They cover the different phenotypes of asthma, how this is relevant for clinical management, the findings of the NRAD and how we can apply these in practice to make asthma care safer. 

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

In this podcast, Dr Emma Nash talks with consultant paediatric gastroenterologist Peter Gillett to examine common presentations in general practice and paediatric outpatient departments that can be attributed to functional GI disorders. Recognition and diagnosis are considered, along with management, and the important conditions to exclude are touched upon.

Here is a list of resources relating to the content of this podcast:
Refractory Constipation: What is the Clinician to Do?
Gut-focused hypnotherapy for children and adolescents with irritable bowel syndrome
Dietary and pharmacological treatment of abdominal pain in IBS
Guidelines on management of cyclic vomiting syndrome in adults by the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society and the Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Association
Managing cyclic vomiting syndrome in children: beyond the guidelines
Paediatric functional abdominal pain disorders
Fifteen-minute consultation: Childhood rumination syndrome
Functional abdominal pain in adolescents: case-based management
Practical management of functional abdominal pain in children
Chronic nausea and vomiting: evaluation and treatment
Fifteen-minute consultation on the healthy child: Bowel habit in infants and children

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

In this podcast, Professor Pali Hungin and Dr Emma Nash discuss functional gastrointestinal disorders. The podcast explores the nature of functional GI disorders, the evolving understanding of the pathophysiology behind them, and how this knowledge can help GPs manage the conditions. There is a focus on irritable bowel syndrome, including how it may be positively differentiated from other conditions, rather than made as a diagnosis of exclusion.

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

In medicine we talk about the upper and lower airway, but in fact these two tracts are continuous with each other, lined with the same epithelium and affected by the same disease processes. In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell and Professor David Price discuss how this knowledge affects the management of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Patients with asthma are more likely to have allergic rhinitis than the general population, and vice versa. By proactively asking about symptoms of allergic rhinitis in those with asthma, and vice versa, we can personalise our care and help patients to gain better control of both conditions. 

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Lung cancer is common and the cause of a fifth of all cancer deaths. Early detection in primary care is key in improving survival rates by enabling curative treatment. In this podcast, Dr Sally Higginbottom and Dr Steve Holmes discuss the role of imaging and screening for lung cancer.

This episode was updated in October 2022, to reflect recent guidance. 

An educational grant was received by AstraZeneca for the production of this podcast.  Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

GPs and other NHS clinicians are often pressed for time, but there is a lot to talk about in the first consultation for a patient with eczema. In this podcast Dr Toni Hazell talks to Dr Angelika Razzaque about what should ideally be covered, whether in one appointment or split over more than one. This includes how to break the news of a chronic condition, whilst still giving some hope for effective management, how to manage steroid phobia and how to safely deal with a patient who wishes to use alternative medicine to manage their eczema. 

An educational grant was received by Sanofi for the production of this podcast.  Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Eczema is often seen as purely a skin disease, but it is associated with other allergic conditions and can cause significant stress for patients and their families. In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell and Dr Angelika Razzaque discuss the links between eczema and other allergic illnesses, the management of hand eczema, psychological stress due to eczema and how to manage children with disturbed sleep due to eczema. 

An educational grant was received by Sanofi for the production of this podcast.  Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell discusses the diagnosis and management of heart failure with Ahmet Fuat, honorary professor of primary care cardiology at Durham University, and Sarah Worsnop who shares her experiences of being diagnosed with heart failure at an early age. They cover the importance of the use of NT-proBNP test in patients with symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath, and of keeping an open mind if a patient presents at a younger age than would usually be associated with heart failure. The podcast goes on to cover the basics of heart failure management and the issues that are important to patients, including different consultation styles and open access to heart failure nurses when needed.

This podcast was funded by Roche Diagnostics Limited. Final editorial and content decisions were made by the RCGP. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily represent the views of Roche Diagnostics Limited.

Over 900,000 people in the UK are living with heart failure, and 3 million have chronic kidney disease (CKD). The prevalence of both of these diseases is rising in part due to increasing obesity and type 2 diabetes, as well as an aging population.  In this podcast Dr Sam Robinson talks to Professor Ahmet Fuat, a GP Partner and immediate past president of the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society, about HFrEF versus HfpEF, the barriers to diagnosing and managing heart failure, and what we can do in Primary Care in regards to prevention.  They then go on to discuss chronic kidney disease, including how this relates to cardiorenal metabolic syndrome, how to prevent acute kidney injury, including sick day rules, and what the future may bring to the management of CKD. 

In this podcast Dr Sam Robinson talks to Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE, a GP with a special interest in diabetes and a Visiting Professor of General Practice at Huddersfield University , about typ2 2 diabetes and how it interconnects with cardiac and renal pathophysiology.

There are many urban myths which circulate in the world of allergy. In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell and Professor Adam Fox attempt to put the record straight regarding some of them. We will cover vaccination and egg allergy, progression of allergic reactions, the use of adrenaline auto-injectors and allergy tests which are available to buy online.

Reviewed and updated: June 2024

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Approximately 4 million people in the UK have an autoimmune disease, many of whom have been affected by COVID-19, by either contracting the disease itself or negotiating the rapidly changing rules regarding shielding. In this podcast Dr Sam Robinson talks to Dr Kevin Barrett about the interaction between COVID-19 and autoimmune diseases, the concerns these patients may have regarding COVID vaccination, and whether there could be any positive outcomes from the COVID-19 pandemic.   

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Reviewed and updated: December 2024.

Further listening: 

Coeliac disease affects 1% of the population, however it remains under diagnosed. In a disease which is mainly managed by diet, why do we need to investigate and make a formal diagnosis? In this podcast Dr Sam Robinson talks to Professor David Sanders, Professor of Gastroenterology at the University of Sheffield and a consultant at The Royal Hallamshire Hospital, about why a diagnosis is important, which non-gastroenterological symptoms patients may present with, and what the future of coeliac disease might look like. 

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Reviewed: December 2024.

Alzheimer’s disease is the commonest cause of dementia. In this podcast, GP Sally Higginbottom interviews Dr Clare Wadlow, Consultant in old age psychiatry on practical tips in assessing and managing patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

In this RCGP podcast, Dr James Matheson, RCGP Chair of the Health Inequalities Standing Group talks to Christiana Melam, CEO of the National Association of Link Workers about how those in primary care can best work with Social Prescribing Link Workers. They discuss the what a Social Prescribing Link Worker is, their role in addressing health inequalities, specialist roles evolving from Link Workers working with particular groups of people e.g. vulnerable patients, the challenges facing individual Link Workers as well as the Link Worker profession, the do’s and don’ts of how primary care teams can best welcome and support Link Workers and what needs to happen to ensure that the Link Worker role is sustainable. More information can be found at https://www.nalw.org.uk/ 

Reviewed and updated: November 2024

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition, but if treated early with disease modifying drugs then it can sometimes be put into long-term remission. In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell and Dr Danny Murphy discuss the need to treat rheumatoid arthritis at an early date as well as some of the less commonly covered areas of management, including psychological issues, contraception and fertility and drug monitoring during COVID.

Reviewed and updated: July 2024

Supported by an independent education grant from Pfizer Inc. Pfizer has had no involvement in the content.

This podcast features a discussion between Dr Kevin Barrett, a GP in Hertfordshire and Maralyn Druce, a Professor of Endocrine Medicine. Topics include:

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Reviewed and updated: December 2024.

Pollen food syndrome is a common allergy, characterised by a very rapid onset of mild symptoms which resolve quickly. Serious reactions such as anaphylaxis are rare. In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell and Dr Isabel Skypala discuss the interaction between pollen food syndrome and hayfever and how to differentiate between pollen food syndrome and primary food allergy. They also cover the immediate treatment of pollen food syndrome, when to refer to an allergy clinic and which patients might need an adrenaline auto-injector.

Reviewed and updated: June 2024

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Allergic rhinitis and asthma are common conditions which affect a single airway and are therefore inextricably linked. In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell and Dr Glenis Scadding discuss the links between asthma and allergic rhinitis, when to suspect that a rhinitis may be non-allergic, the importance of trigger factors and the use of immunotherapy for the treatment of allergy.

Reviewed and updated: June 2024

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Syncope is defined as transient loss of consciousness due to cerebral hypoperfusion; it is a common problem which will affect an estimated 15-20% of children before the end of adolescence. The cause is usually benign, but it is important not to miss syncope due to a cardiac cause. In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell talks to Professor Lesley Kavi about the different causes of syncope in children and young adults. They also discuss how to diagnose and manage the condition in primary care.

Reviewed and updated: June 2024

In this podcast, Dr Kevin Barrett talks to Dr Danny Murphy about osteoarthritis (OA) and how to diagnose and manage the condition in primary care. They also discuss what can be done to help patients who have been diagnosed and the useful resources available to support them. 

Financial support for the design and development of this Osteoarthritis Learning Hub is provided by Pfizer Ltd as a Medical and Educational Goods and Services grant, an arm’s length educational grant. Pfizer has had no involvement in the content.

In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell talks to Dr Liz Angier about presentations of allergy and how the presentation is related to the underlying mechanism of the allergy, whether IgE mediated or non IgE mediated. The podcast covers history taking, referral, the interpretation of allergy tests and the use of community services such as dietetics to help in both diagnosis and management.

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Reviewed and updated: November 2023

In this podcast the Dr Dirk Pilat chats with RCGP’s Honorary Secretary Dr Jonathan Leach about staying well in these stressful times. Topics include workload overload, how to relax after work and how to look after our colleagues.

An educational grant was received by CHSA (COVID-19 Healthcare Support Appeal) for the production of this podcast. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Reviewed: February 2024

In this podcast, we talk to Dr Kevin Barrett, a GP in Hertfordshire and Chair of the Primary Care Society of Gastroenterology. about autoimmune hepatobiliary disease. The discussion focuses on primary biliary cholangitis and autoimmune hepatitis, including when to consider them as diagnoses and what the next steps should be for a GP. Risk from COVID-19 is also touched on, along with how we can support remote monitoring in primary care, when this is needed.

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Reviewed: December 2023

In this RCGP podcast on peanut allergy Dr Toni Hazell talks to Dr Helen Brough, Consultant in paediatric allergy at the Evelina children’s hospital. They discuss the prevalence of peanut allergy and how to deal with a patient who presents with a possible allergy, including the question of whether to give an adrenaline auto-injector while they are waiting to see a consultant. They also cover the LEAP study, the results of which have allowed paediatricians to confidently recommend that the early introduction of peanut into the diet from 4-11 months of age can prevent the development of peanut allergy in at-risk children (severe eczema or egg allergy). Dr Brough discusses how this can be implemented in primary care.

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Reviewed and updated: November 2023

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common medical condition which is usually managed in primary care. In this podcast we interview Dr Kevin Barrett, chair of the Primary Care Society for Gastroenterology and discuss the diagnosis and management of IBS. The discussion will include when to suspect IBS, what tests need to be done routinely, management in primary care, how to explain a diagnosis of IBS to a patient and when to consider referral to secondary care.

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Reviewed and updated: November 2023

Patients with suspected inflammatory arthritis benefit significantly from swift assessment by secondary care. If disease modifying drugs are started soon after presentation, the likelihood of full remission is greatly improved. This has always been challenging within the resource limitations of the NHS and waiting lists are now higher than ever as we try to catch up from the pandemic. In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell speaks to Dr Danny Murphy about the basics of making a diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis, when to refer and what investigations to carry out before referral as well as talking about the role of the GP in the care of a patient with diagnosed inflammatory arthritis. Dr Murphy also discusses how your management might change if you know that your patient is going to wait longer than is ideal, and when you might want to communicate directly with your local rheumatologist.

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Reviewed and updated: November 2023

This podcast is a follow-up to the first, very well received podcast on coeliac disease. This time we are talking to Dr Charlie Andrews who is a GP in Clevedon and part of the committee for the Primary Care Society of Gastroenterology. The podcast covers scenarios in which coeliac disease might be overlooked, multi-system manifestations of the condition and why they arise, and issues with diagnosing coeliac disease in children.

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Reviewed: December 2023

Dr Ollie Hart, GP, PCN Clinical Director, Clinical Commissioning Lead for Person Centred Care at Sheffield CCG and passionate exponent of personalised care, discusses the benefits for individual patients, health professionals and the whole system.

Dr Nicky Turner, GP in Buckinghamshire and Clinical Director for the Chalfonts PCN reflects on her personal leadership journey, and discusses some of the opportunities and challenges facing all clinical directors.  This podcast was recorded prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

BMA PCN site 

The King's Fund (2020) How to build effective teams in general practice 

Dr Tim Williams GP, coach and author discusses the value of coaching for leadership development both for individual PCN leaders, teams and the whole organisation.

 

A brief introduction to population health for Primary Care Networks (PCN) from Dr Kathrin Thomas a GP and Consultant in Public Health.  The discussion includes a clear explanation of what a population health approach means, how it can address health inequalities and improve the health of your PCN population, and some practical suggestions as to how this might be achieved.

 

In this podcast, Dr Helen Howells, a GP with a special interest in Allergy, and Dr Dirk Pilat discuss aspects of atopy management during lockdown. Topics include hayfever, anosmia, weaning, adrenaline auto-injectors and service provision.

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Reviewed and updated: February 2024

Many of our patients are very anxious at the moment; in the worst case scenario this anxiety can manifest as apparent shortness of breath and affect your clinical assessment. In this episode we discuss how to address these issues, what we can say to patients to help and the use of communication skills and empathy in these difficult consultations.

This is episode 4 in a series about telephone triage during COVID-19.

Aimed at those coming back to triage after a break, this episode discusses new technology such as video calls and techniques to get started again, such as the golden minute. We also talk about the adaptation of basic communication skills to the triage call and how to handle the patient’s ideas, concerns and expectations. 

This is episode 2 in a series about telephone triage during COVID-19.

This episode focuses specifically on triaging a patient with possible COVID-19, including a discussion about how to carry out a verbal examination and what red flags to look for. It also discusses how to assess shortness of breath on the phone, which is a particular challenge for patients who may have COVID-19. 

This is episode 3 in a series about telephone triage during COVID-19.

This introductory episode discusses telephone triage from the perspective of a doctor who is new to it. We discuss how to set up a session of telephone triage to maximise success, how to structure and document the call and how to safety net. Some groups of patients can be particularly challenging and we talk about how to manage these challenges and how to know when triage won’t work and the patient has to be seen. 

This is episode 1 in a series about telephone triage during COVID-19.

This EKU2019.3 explores the recent Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare on Combined hormonal contraception with Dr Anne Lashford, a GP in Wiltshire, Vice President of the FSRH and an Assessor for EMBRACE, which audits maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality combined hormonal contraception.

In the UK, there are approximately 146,000 people with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and at least 115,000 people with Crohn’s disease. 

This EKU2019.3 podcast discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment of people with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease with Dr Kevin Barrett, a GP in Hertfordshire, Chair of the Primary Care Society for Gastroenterology and RCGP Crohn's and Colitis Spotlight Clinical Lead.

It is important that all patients feel welcome at their GP and survey data suggests that this is not always the case for LGBT patient. In this podcast Dr Toni Hazell and Dr Kamilla Kamaruddin discuss how you can make your practice inclusive and welcoming for LGBT patients, starting from when they walk through the door into the waiting room. They also discuss the use of pronouns for transgender patients and how GPs can be supportive of LGBT staff.

This episode was launched in January 2020.
Reviewed: September 2023

With thanks to Dr Mike Farquhar for giving us permission to use the NHS Badge image from the @RainbowNHSBadge Twitter page.

In this podcast Dr Toni Hazell and Dr Kamilla Kamaruddin discuss the issue of disclosure of LGBT status, including reasons why patients may not feel comfortable sharing their status. Legal issues are covered, as well as general good practice around language and communication with secondary care.

This episode was launched in January 2020.
Reviewed: September 2023

There are approximately 1.2 million patients with COPD in the UK with 115,000 new cases each year. However most people are diagnosed in their 50’s or older and a large number remain undiagnosed.

This EKU2019.2 podcast explores the symptoms, investigations, referral, treatment and management of people with COPD with Dr Steve Holmes, a GP in Somerset and Education Lead with the Primary Care Respiratory Society. 

Prostate cancer is the commonest cancer in men and is the third commonest cause of cancer death in the UK, causing more deaths than breast cancer. 

 

This Essential Knowledge Update (EKU2019.2) podcast discussed prostate cancer screening and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test with Dr Sam Merriel a GP in North Somerset and a Clinical Senior Research Fellow at the University of Exeter.

Patients with allergy commonly present to GPs – some can be treated in primary care, whilst others will need referring to a hospital clinic or a GP with an interest in this area. In this podcast, Dr. Susan Leech, clinical lead for the paediatric allergy service at King’s hospital, discusses issues such as how to treat in primary care, when to refer and who should have an adrenaline auto-injector. The podcast also covers cows’ milk protein allergy and how to advise a patient who feels that they have an intolerance to certain foods.

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Reviewed and updated: November 2023

In this podcast, Dr Charlie Andrews, committee member of the Primary Care Society of Gastroenterology and Clinical Champion for West of England for inflammatory bowel disease, discusses various aspects of coeliac disease, from when it should be considered through to longer term management. He offers hints to diagnostic clues which should prompt testing, and guidance on the process of testing, including consuming enough gluten in the run-up to investigating. Patients need support and information once the diagnosis is made, and Charlie explains what you can do as a GP and who else may need to be involved in their ongoing care.

This podcast was produced as part of the Autoimmunity Education app, which will be available on the RCGP Online Learning Environment from October 2019.

Reviewed: August 2023

Financial support for the project was provided as a sponsorship from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

There are approximately 1.5 men and 3.6 women per 10,000 people who develop rheumatoid arthritis each year. 

This EKU2019.1 Podcast discusses the management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults with Dr Barbara Noble, a GP in Wolverhampton, a CSA assessor, appraiser and EKU Programme Author.

Contraception is a rapidly changing field, with new devices becoming available and new guidelines being issued. RCGP Clinical Champion for Menstrual Wellbeing, Dr Anne Connolly, talks to Dr Toni Hazell about a variety of subjects in the area of contraception. She starts by discussing emergency contraception and how to choose between the two oral methods available and then goes on to discuss the UKMEC which is the main reference guideline for contraception safety. The podcast then covers the different hormonal intrauterine systems available, contraception in the peri-menopause and the use of extended pill taking.

While deaths from other common conditions are falling, mortality from liver disease is increasing. There has been a 400% increase in deaths from liver disease between 1970-2010. This is higher in patients under the age of 65.

This Essential Knowledge Update (EKU2018.3) podcast discussed the management of abnormal liver blood tests.

Studies report that between 4-51% of women are affected by heavy periods. 

This Essential Knowledge Update (EKU2018.3) podcast explores the assessment and management of heavy menstrual bleeding.

Endometriosis is associated with infertility and is also associated with a lower quality of life with women taking more sick days because of the condition.

This Essential Knowledge Update (EKU2018.2) podcast explores the diagnosis and management of endometriosis in primary care. 

The National Review into Asthma Deaths in 2014 found that 46% of asthma deaths may have been avoidable if guidelines were followed.

This Essential Knowledge Update (EKU2018.2) podcast discusses the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and chronic asthma management in primary care.

Axial spondyloarthritis is often misdiagnosed as mechanical back pain. There is an average delay of 8.5 years between symptom onset and diagnosis. 

This Essential Knowledge Update (2018.1) podcast provides an overview of spondyloarthritis and offers information and guidance on its diagnosis, investigations and (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) management in primary care.

The point prevalence of dermatitis in the UK is estimated to be about 20%, with atopic/endogenous dermatitis making up the majority of cases.

This Essential Knowledge Update (EKU2017.3) podcast discusses the 2017 British Association of Dermatologists guideline on contact dermatitis and how the condition is diagnosed and managed in primary care. It explore the irritant and allergic responses and the assessment and treatment/therapies for patients presenting with the condition. 

5.4 million people in the UK are currently receiving treatment for asthma - 1.1 million children (1 in 11) and 4.3 million adults (1 in 12).

This Essential Knowledge Update (EKU2017.2) podcast discusses the management of asthma in primary care including the criteria for assessing and diagnosing asthma in both children and adults, allergy testing, treatments (both non medication such as breathing exercises and medical treatments) and occupational asthma. 

About 20% of adults have chronic non-cancer pain, and approximately 25% of those will benefit long-term from prescription opioids.

This Essential Knowledge Update (EKU2017.2) podcast discusses two papers (from the European Pain Federation and the New England Journal of Medicine) with different views on the use of opioids in chronic pain and how this evidence can be translated into primary care. 

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) presents as a disease spectrum. Fatty change is a common and frequently benign condition, present in 20-30% of the population and up to 90% of the morbidly obese.

This Essential Knowledge Update (EKU2017.1) podcast explores the NICE guideline on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It discusses epidemiology of the condition as well as assessment, diagnosis (including severity) and management in primary care. 

The mean age of women who have a natural menopause is 51 years, although there is wide variation between women.

This Essential Knowledge Update (EKU18) podcast explores the diagnosis, treatment and management of the menopause. It also discusses the peri-menopause, primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), symptoms of the menopause and more. 

Alcohol use disorders are most common among those in young adulthood (18-29 years), a group that are relatively low at consulting primary care.

This Essential Knowledge Update (EKU18) podcast discusses the global burden of the disease and the main groups at risk of alcohol use disorder. It explores the diagnostic terms, identification, investigations, interventions and management in primary care and also highlights the area of driving and the DVLA.

Statistics for England in 2011 showed approximately 320,000 adults with epilepsy were receiving anti-epileptic drugs (AED), but it is estimated that only two thirds of these adults have it adequately controlled.

This Essential Knowledge Update (EKU17) podcast explores history taking including eye witness accounts of seizures, differential diagnoses, support from and referral to secondary care including diagnosis in hospital settings. It also discusses the treatment of seizures, driving and epilepsy and epilepsy in pregnant women and people with learning disabilities. 

Recent research (Ahmad 2015) has shown an increase in lifetime cancer risk from approximately 1 in 3 for those born in 1930 to 1 in 2 for those born after 1960. 

This Essential Knowledge Update (EKU17) podcast provides information on the NICE guideline in which the EKU module was based including the recommendations for site specific cancers and also by symptom/findings of primary care investigations in both adults and children. It also discusses the referral criteria and how to explain the reasoning for the referral to a patient.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common disabling neurological disease of young adults in the UK. Over 100,000 people in the UK have MS and it effects over 2,000,000 more. It is not considered a terminal illness and it is not contagious.

This Essential Knowledge Update (EKU16) podcast discusses the prevelance, presentation and assessment, symptom relief, relapses and exacerbations, referral and management (including ongoing information, advice and support) of MS. It also highlights MS in pregnancy.

It is estimated that patients with MUPS represent up to 20% of GP contacts, and 30% of patients presenting with physical symptoms.

This Essential Knowledge Update (EKU16) podcast explores the pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for somatoform disorders and medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS).

Dyspepsia is common, affecting about a fifth of people at some point in their lives and is estimated to cost the UK more than £1bn each year.

This Essential Knowledge Update (EKU15) podcast explores the topic of Dyspepsia and Gastro‑oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD). It discusses the assessment (including the testing for H Pylori), treatment and management within primary care and referral to a specialist service.