PCCS Unscripted

In this episode, Dr Xenophon Kassianides and Prof Raj Thakkar explore how primary care is evolving. They cover key changes, including the 2025/26 QOF updates, and the growing shift from reactive care to a more proactive, preventative approach as well as what this means and why it matters for the future of general practice.

If you are a UK practising healthcare professional and would like to learn more about cardiovascular disease (CVD), please take a look at our online CVD academy here: Become a Member | Primary Care Cardiovascular Society________________

This podcast is intended for UK Healthcare professionals only. The information provided in this presentation is for educational purposes only. Prescribing or management decisions made by clinicians are exclusively their own responsibility. The speaker/PCCS bear no responsibility regarding management or prescribing decisions made by others, or otherwise.

If you have any concerns about any personal health related issues discussed in this podcast, please consult with your own GP.

Please click here to view the speakers' declaration of interest.

In this weeks episode of PCCS Unscripted, Dr Xenophon Kassianides, is joined by Consultant nephrologist, Prof Kieran McCarfferty, to talk all things heart, kidneys and diabetes. CKD is common but often misunderstood or missed, and earlier detection can make a real difference. They discuss why CKD is overlooked, how to check for it in everyday practice, and why getting it right matters for long‑term cardiovascular and metabolic health.

If you are a UK practising healthcare professional and would like to learn more about cardiovascular disease (CVD), please take a look at our online CVD academy here: Join the PCCS | Primary Care Cardiovascular Society

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This podcast is intended for UK Healthcare professionals only. The information provided in this presentation is for educational purposes only. Prescribing or management decisions made by clinicians are exclusively their own responsibility. The speaker/PCCS bear no responsibility regarding management or prescribing decisions made by others, or otherwise.

If you have any concerns about any personal health related issues discussed in this podcast, please consult with your own GP.

Please click here to view the speakers' declaration of interest.

In this week’s episode, Dr Xenophon Kassianides is joined by Prof Raj Thakkar to explore the complex relationship between mental health and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Their discussion highlights the importance of addressing mental health within primary care, examines the physiological links between mental health conditions and CVD, and outlines effective approaches for managing patients experiencing both. 

If you are a UK practising healthcare professional and would like to learn more about cardiovascular disease (CVD), please take a look at our online CVD academy here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the PCCS | Primary Care Cardiovascular Society⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

________________

This podcast is intended for UK Healthcare professionals only. The information provided in this presentation is for educational purposes only. Prescribing or management decisions made by clinicians are exclusively their own responsibility. The speaker/PCCS bear no responsibility regarding management or prescribing decisions made by others, or otherwise.

If you have any concerns about any personal health related issues discussed in this podcast, please consult with your own GP.

Please ⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠ to view the speakers' declaration of interest.

In this weeks episode, Dr Xenophon Kassianides, Prof Derek Connolly, Beverley Bostock & Dr Paul Ferenc sit down together to discuss the updates to the NICE guideline NG28: Type 2 diabetes in adults: management, which was updated on 18 February 2026.

If you are a UK practising healthcare professional and would like to learn more about cardiovascular disease (CVD), please take a look at our online CVD academy here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the PCCS | Primary Care Cardiovascular Society⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

________________

This podcast is intended for UK Healthcare professionals only. The information provided in this presentation is for educational purposes only. Prescribing or management decisions made by clinicians are exclusively their own responsibility. The speaker/PCCS bear no responsibility regarding management or prescribing decisions made by others, or otherwise.

If you have any concerns about any personal health related issues discussed in this podcast, please consult with your own GP.

Please ⁠⁠click here⁠⁠ to view the speakers' declaration of interest.

In this week’s episode, Dr Xenophon Kassianides is joined by Lifestyle Medicine Doctor, Dr Sundhya Raman, to delve into all things sleep. Together, they explore the different types of sleep and why each stage matters, break down the science behind quality rest, examine the impact of poor sleep on overall health, and share practical strategies to help improve a nightly routine.

If you are a UK practising healthcare professional and would like to learn more about cardiovascular disease (CVD), please take a look at our online CVD academy here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the PCCS | Primary Care Cardiovascular Society⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

________________

This podcast is intended for UK Healthcare professionals only. The information provided in this presentation is for educational purposes only. Prescribing or management decisions made by clinicians are exclusively their own responsibility. The speaker/PCCS bear no responsibility regarding management or prescribing decisions made by others, or otherwise.

If you have any concerns about any personal health related issues discussed in this podcast, please consult with your own GP.

Please ⁠click here⁠ to view the speakers' declaration of interest.

This week’s episode continues our exploration of revascularisation from last week’s podcast. Our host, Dr Xenophon Kassianides, is joined by Prof Derek Connolly, Beverley Bostock and Maria Glover to dive into all things cardiac rehabilitation, unpacking key questions such as:

• What is cardiac rehabilitation?
• What does this service aim to achieve?
• Why is cardiac rehabilitation considered a lifelong commitment?
• Which populations need additional support to engage with the service?

If you are a UK practising healthcare professional and would like to learn more about cardiovascular disease (CVD), please take a look at our online CVD academy here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the PCCS | Primary Care Cardiovascular Society⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

________________

This podcast is intended for UK Healthcare professionals only. The information provided in this presentation is for educational purposes only. Prescribing or management decisions made by clinicians are exclusively their own responsibility. The speaker/PCCS bear no responsibility regarding management or prescribing decisions made by others, or otherwise.

If you have any concerns about any personal health related issues discussed in this podcast, please consult with your own GP.

Please click here to view the speakers' declaration of interest.

In this weeks episode Dr Xenophon Kassianides is joined by PCCS council members, Prof Derek Connolly and Dr Paul Ferenc, as they take a deep dive into revascularisation: when to think about it, how to approach it and why it is important.

If you are a UK practising healthcare professional and would like to learn more about cardiovascular disease (CVD), please take a look at our online CVD academy here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the PCCS | Primary Care Cardiovascular Society⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

________________

This podcast is intended for UK Healthcare professionals only. The information provided in this presentation is for educational purposes only. Prescribing or management decisions made by clinicians are exclusively their own responsibility. The speaker/PCCS bear no responsibility regarding management or prescribing decisions made by others, or otherwise.

If you have any concerns about any personal health related issues discussed in this podcast, please consult with your own GP.

Speakers declarations can be found on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠

Please join Dr Xenophon Kassianides, Prof Derek Connolly and Dr Rani Khatib for a comprehensive recap of the progress in CVRM medicine during 2025:

• Outlining antiplatelet drugs and beta blockers post ACS

• Discussing the ESC guidelines update on cholesterol management, the importance of a full lipid profile and the evidence for combination therapy

• The evolving market of antihypertensive drugs

• The obesity pandemic, how GLP-1’s support weight loss, highlighting the need for concurrent proactive health management including exercise and risk modification

If you are a UK practising healthcare professional and would like to learn more about cardiovascular disease (CVD), please take a look at our online CVD academy here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the PCCS | Primary Care Cardiovascular Society⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

________________

This podcast is intended for UK Healthcare professionals only. The information provided in this presentation is for educational purposes only. Prescribing or management decisions made by clinicians are exclusively their own responsibility. The speaker/PCCS bear no responsibility regarding management or prescribing decisions made by others, or otherwise.

If you have any concerns about any personal health related issues discussed in this podcast, please consult with your own GP.

Speakers declarations can be found on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠

In our first episode of 2026, our podcast host Dr Xenophon Kassianides is joined by Prof Derek Connolly and Dr Rani Khatib to explore the rise in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and impart their recommendations on how to manage CVD holistically, focussing on identifying, addressing and optimising all risk factors.

If you are a UK practising healthcare professional and would like to learn more about cardiovascular disease (CVD), please take a look at our online CVD academy here: ⁠About the CVD Academy | Primary Care Cardiovascular Society⁠

________________

This podcast is intended for UK Healthcare professionals only. The information provided in this presentation is for educational purposes only. Prescribing or management decisions made by clinicians are exclusively their own responsibility. The speaker/PCCS bear no responsibility regarding management or prescribing decisions made by others, or otherwise.

If you have any concerns about any personal health related issues discussed in this podcast, please consult with your own GP.

In the final episode of 2026, members of the PCCS Council sit down together to recap the standout moments of the past year and chat about all the exciting things coming up next year.

If you are a UK practising healthcare professional and would like to learn more about cardiovascular disease (CVD), please take a look at our online CVD academy here: About the CVD Academy | Primary Care Cardiovascular Society

________________

This podcast is intended for UK Healthcare professionals only. The information provided in this presentation is for educational purposes only. Prescribing or management decisions made by clinicians are exclusively their own responsibility. The speaker/PCCS bear no responsibility regarding management or prescribing decisions made by others, or otherwise.

If you have any concerns about any personal health related issues discussed in this podcast, please consult with your own GP.

Speakers declarations can be found on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here,