RCGP eLearning Podcast

Primary care clinicians need a clear and structured approach to the diagnosis and treatment of people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD). This can help clinicians to identify the small proportion of people who need urgent investigation or long-term surveillance, whilst offering holistic treatment aimed at symptom improvement for the larger population with symptomatic but benign GORD. In this podcast, Dr Thomas Round, a GP and EKU Clinical Lead, talks to Dr Kevin Barrett, a GP and member of the Primary Care Society of Gastroenterology about the advances in the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux.

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. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.Reviewed: February 2025Your feedback plays a crucial role in helping us improve the CPD products and services we offer. We would be grateful if you could please complete our short RCGP Podcast Survey, which will take no more than 5 minutes to complete.

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.Reviewed: May 2025 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.Reviewed and updated: November 2025

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.Reviewed and updated: November 2025

Every year approximately 2% of adults seek medical attention for moderate to severe dizziness. In this podcast, Dr Thomas Round, EKU Clinical Lead, talks to Dr Devina Maru, a GP Speciality Registrar in Greenwich with a special interest in ENT and audiology and RCGP National Clinical Champion for hearing loss, about sudden onset dizziness and vertigo. Their discussion includes the definition of dizziness and its associated symptoms, how common it is, causes of dizziness and vertigo, testing (such as the HINTs, Dix Hallpike, Romberg's, Weber's and Rinnes tests and the Epley manoeuvre) and management.

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. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.Reviewed and updated: June 2024Your feedback plays a crucial role in helping us improve the CPD products and services we offer. We would be grateful if you could please complete our short RCGP Podcast Survey, which will take no more than 5 minutes to complete

In the UK over 3 million people are estimated to have osteoporosis and there are estimated to be over 500,000 fragility fractures that occur in the UK each year. In this podcast Dr Thomas Round, EKU Clinical Lead talks to Dr David Stephens, a locum and OOH GP in Scotland, and a member of the SIGN Guideline Development Group, concerning osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures including the challenges faced by GPs, changes in the latest guidelines, the importance of diagnosis, the use of FRAX and QFracture tools, treatment recommendations and ongoing management.

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. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.Reviewed and updated: December 2024.

Further listening: RCGP podcast: Perspectives on... black women in health RCGP podcast: Perspectives on... being a South Asian GP Reviewed: June 2025

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. 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

Global incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is between 1 and 2 per 1,000 adults annually. In this podcast Dr Thomas Round, EKU Clinical Lead discusses with Dr Nicholas Jones, a salaried GP, GP Cardiologist and a Wellcome Trust Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, the diagnosis, management and thrombophilia testing of venous thromboembolic diseases including the changes in the approach to assessment recommended by NICE and how the new guidelines have adjusted their recommendations around anticoagulation treatment.

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: The diagnosis of autoimmune hypothyroidism and how to interpret borderline results When it is appropriate to screen for thyroid disorders Prescribing levothyroxine and what to tell our patients The impact of thyroid disorders on pregnancy How to deal with queries about liothyronine The May 2021 MHRA guidance for switching levothyroxine manufacturers 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.Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.Reviewed and updated: June 2024 Your feedback plays a crucial role in helping us improve the CPD products and services we offer. We would be grateful if you could please complete our short RCGP Podcast Survey, which will take no more than 5 minutes to complete.

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.Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.Reviewed and updated: June 2024 Your feedback plays a crucial role in helping us improve the CPD products and services we offer. We would be grateful if you could please complete our short RCGP Podcast Survey, which will take no more than 5 minutes to complete.

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions in the UK leading to 3.5 million primary care visits every year. In this EKU2020.3 podcast Dr Thomas Round, a GP and RCGP Essential Knowledge Update (EKU) Clinical Lead discusses the condition of acne vulgaris with Dr Angelika Razzaque, a GP partner and trainer in South East London and Executive Chair of the Primary Care Dermatology Society (PCDS) Executive Committee.

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.Reviewed: December 2024.

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.Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP. Reviewed and updated: November 2023Your feedback plays a crucial role in helping us improve the CPD products and services we offer. We would be grateful if you could please complete our short RCGP Podcast Survey, which will take no more than 5 minutes to complete.

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.Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.Reviewed: December 2023

Eczema is a common, chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin condition which mainly occurs in childhood but can persist into or start in adulthood. In this EKU2020.2 Dr Dirk Pilat, a GP and RCGP Medical Director for eLearning discusses atopic eczema, dermatitis and emollients for eczema in children with Dr Matthew Ridd, a GP and Reader in Primary Healthcare at the Centre for Academic Primary Care at the University of Bristol. Dr Ridd's research interests include skin and allergy problems diagnosed and managed in primary care, mainly focusing on childhood eczema.

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.Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.Reviewed: March 2026Your feedback plays a crucial role in helping us improve the CPD products and services we offer. We would be grateful if you could please complete our short RCGP Podcast Survey, which will take no more than 5 minutes to complete.

The prevalence of diverticular disease is up 65% by 85 years of age. In this EKU2020.2 podcast we explore the diagnosis and management of diverticular disease with Dr Patricia Mcnair, an interface geriatrician with an interest in gastroenterology who currently works in palliative care in Farnham.

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. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.Reviewed: March 2026

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. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP. Reviewed: March 2026

Thrombocytosis is associated with a higher risk of solid tumour malignancy. In this EKU2020.1 podcast we discuss with Professor Willie Hamilton, GP and Professor of Primary Care Diagnostics at the University of Exeter, the causes, investigations, differential diagnosis and referral of thrombocytosis.

Around 40% of adults have hypertension. It is a key risk factor for a range of prevalent diseases including ischaemic heart disease, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease. In this EKU2020.1 podcast we explore with Dr Kevin Barrett, a GP in Hertfordshire and RCGP Clinical Lead, the NICE Guideline on Hypertension, in particular blood pressure (BP) readings (including those taken at home, in clinic and ambulatory readings), changes in BP targets, the different stages of hypertension, treatment and referral.

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.Resources mentioned in the podcast NHS England (2019) Universal Personalised Care Implementing the Comprehensive Model Peak Health Coaching Nesta (2016) Ten actions to put people and communities at the heart of health and wellbeing Patient Activation Measure The Health Foundation National Voices

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. Resources mentioned in the podcast. BMA PCN site Ockham Healthcare The King's Fund (2020) How to build effective teams in general practice

Developing a coaching mindset at your PCNDr Tim Williams GP, coach and author discusses the value of coaching for leadership development both for individual PCN leaders, teams and the whole organisation. Resources mentioned in the podcast Kline, N. (1999). Time to think. London: Ward Lock. Kline, N. (2009). More time to think. Pool-in-Wharfedale: Fisher King Pub. NHS Leadership Academy Coaching & Mentoring. Programmes Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management Williams, T. (2015). Don’t ‘Just’ STOPIT.DOIT. Kibworth Beauchamp: Matador

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. Resources mentioned in the podcast Kings Fund Short video Public Health England: All Our Health: personalised care and population health Wales: Primary Care One website Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) Or see Glass Half Full Health Knowledge: collection of resources on public health

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. Reviewed and updated: October 2025

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. Reviewed and updated: October 2025

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.

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. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.Reviewed: March 2026Your feedback plays a crucial role in helping us improve the CPD products and services we offer. We would be grateful if you could please complete our short RCGP Podcast Survey, which will take no more than 5 minutes to complete.

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 2023Editorial 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.Reviewed and updated: October 2025

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.