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.

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.

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

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.

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.