RCGP eLearning Podcast

The Royal College of General Practitioners is the professional membership body for family doctors in the UK and overseas. This podcast is produced by the RCGP eLearning and Essential Knowledge Update teams and features discussions with clinical experts about a range of key topics in primary care.

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92 episodes
Updated July 1

Episodes92

Newest first

Sep 8, 2021 · 14 min
Dermatology Podcast: Skin of Colour
Further listening: RCGP podcast: Perspectives on... black women in health RCGP podcast: Perspectives on... being a South Asian GP Reviewed: June 2025
Sep 6, 2021 · 24 min
Why bother diagnosing coeliac disease?
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.
Aug 19, 2021 · 29 min
Practical tips for general practice in the diagnosis and management of Alzheimer’s disease
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.
Jul 29, 2021 · 18 min
Health Inequalities Podcast on Social Prescribing
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
Jul 12, 2021 · 25 min
EKU2020.3: Venous thromboembolic diseases
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.
Jul 8, 2021 · 18 min
Holistic care for patients with RA – beyond the basics
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.
Jul 6, 2021 · 45 min
Autoimmune thyroid disease
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.
Jun 9, 2021 · 12 min
Pollen food syndrome
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.
May 4, 2021 · 14 min
Allergic rhinitis and asthma
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.
Apr 1, 2021 · 27 min
EKU2020.3: Acne Vulgaris
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.
Mar 2, 2021 · 17 min
Syncope and PoTS in children and young adults
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
Jan 25, 2021 · 27 min
Osteoarthritis
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.
Dec 21, 2020 · 30 min
IgE and non-IgE mediated allergy
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: April 2026 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.
Nov 26, 2020 · 17 min
Autoimmune hepatobiliary disease
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
Nov 12, 2020 · 30 min
EKU2020.2: Atopic eczema/dermatitis and emollients for eczema in children
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.
Nov 9, 2020 · 12 min
Peanut allergy
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 2026 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.
Oct 19, 2020 · 15 min
EKU2020.2: Diverticular disease - diagnosis and management
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.
Oct 15, 2020 · 23 min
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
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
Sep 28, 2020 · 27 min
Rheumatoid arthritis
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
Aug 6, 2020 · 13 min
EKU2020.1: Investigating thrombocytosis
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.