RCGP eLearning Podcast

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.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a very common problem. In England alone, approximately 835,000 people have AF. This number is rising rapidly, and prevalence is predicted to double by 2050. This reflects the rising prevalence of risk factors, such as hypertension and obesity as well as being a consequence of population ageing. In this podcast, Dr Thomas Round, a GP and EKU Clinical Lead, talks to Dr Nicholas Jones, a GP and GP cardiologist in Oxford, with an active interest in cardiovascular disease and atrial fibrillation about the diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation.

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.

Chronic primary pain occurs without a clear underlying condition or when the pain - including associated emotional distress and functional disability - is disproportionate to observable injury or condition. These conditions, including fibromyalgia, chronic primary headache, and chronic primary pelvic pain, affect between 1% and 6% of people in England.1 The underlying pathophysiology is poorly understood. In this podcast, Dr Thomas Round, a GP and EKU Clinical Lead, talks to Dr Adam Harvey-Sullivan, an Academic trainee GP (who recently co-authored a BJGP paper on Chronic pain), about this topic.

For further learning on chronic pain, please access the RCGPs eLearning courses on 'Chronic Pain in Adults' and 'Chronic Pain in Children and Young People' as well as the RCGPs EKU2021.3 module on 'Chronic pain (primary and secondary) in over 16s'.

Cannabinoid based medicines are prescribable on the NHS for certain indications, including spasticity in multiple sclerosis and use in children with intractable epilepsy. In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell and Dr Rachel Farrell discuss how these medicines are commonly used and some of the practicalities of prescribing, including consultant initiation and then sometimes ongoing prescribing in primary care with the use of written shared care guidelines. They also touch on the use of cannabinoids on an over the counter basis. Dr Farrell is a neurologist with a particular interest in this area who sat on the NICE guideline committee and carries out research in this area. 

Funding was received from Jazz Pharmaceuticals for the production of this podcast. Jazz Pharmaceuticals reviewed the content for scientific accuracy and full editorial control remains the sole responsibility of the RCGP.

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.

Reviewed and updated: April 2025

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.

Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Reviewed and updated: February 2025

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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

Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.

Reviewed: May 2025