In this episode of the RCP Medicine Podcast, Dr Neil Stone, consultant in infectious diseases and microbiology at University College London Hospitals and associate professor at UCL, joins host Dr Rohan Mehra to explore the often overlooked and increasingly important field of clinical mycology.

The conversation covers a wide spectrum of fungal infections—from diagnosing and managing invasive candidiasis to understanding the global emergence of Candida auris, and the clinical complexities of Cryptococcus and Aspergillus infections. Dr Stone also sheds light on dimorphic fungi, discussing their unique biology, geographical distribution, and the diagnostic challenges they present. Beyond individual pathogens, the episode emphasizes the broader environmental and global health implications of fungal disease, highlighting the need for a One Health approach.

Whether you're a clinician, student, or simply curious about the fungal kingdom, this episode is rich with clinical insights, diagnostic tips, and global perspectives on one of medicine’s most challenging and evolving frontiers.

Resources

WHO Antifungals Report 2025 Antifungal agents in clinical and preclinical development: overview and analysis

WHO Antifungal diagnostics report 2025 Landscape analysis of commercially available and pipeline in vitro diagnostics for fungal priority pathogens

WHO Priority Fungal Pathogens list https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240060241

IDSA Aspergillosis Guidelines 2016 https://www.idsociety.org/practice-guideline/aspergillosis/

Global Guideline for Candiasis 2025 Lancet 2025 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(24)00749-7/fulltext

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Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com

Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas

In this episode of RCP Medicine Podcast, Dr Dale Seviar a Consultant Haematologist at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust is welcomed by Dr Rebecca Kuruvilla, a previous RCP clinical education fellow and an ST7 Clinical Pharmacology and GIM registrar. Together, they discuss the management of sickle cell disease using a hypothetical case study, providing valuable insights and practical tips for medical professionals. 

Sickle cell disease is one of the fastest growing genetic conditions that there is, and it's likely that many of you will be exposed to people living with sickle cell. This episode aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the condition, acute complications and management strategies.

Funding

This episode was funded by Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Limited. Vertex had the opportunity to suggest the topic of this episode only, with no further involvement in its creation and elaboration, and all views and opinions expressed by the presenter and guests are solely their own.

Resources 

Sickle Cell Disease - RCEMLearning

RCEM_BPG_Sickle-Cell-Disease_v3.2.pdf

Inherited anaemias: sickle cell and thalassaemia - ScienceDirect 

Overview | Sickle cell disease: managing acute painful episodes in hospital | Guidance | NICE

Management of Acute Chest Syndrome in Sickle Cell Disease

Hemolytic transfusion reactions in sickle cell disease: underappreciated and potentially fatal - PMC

Sickle cell disease (SCD) and stem cell transplant | Anthony Nolan

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Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com

Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas

In this episode RCP Medicine Podcast, we are joined by Dr John Dean, Clinical Vice President at the Royal College of Physicians and a physician in East Lancashire, and Dr John Ford, an academic public health doctor and Senior Clinical Lecturer at Queen Mary University. Together. They explore the multifaceted nature of health inequalities and discuss actionable steps physicians can take to address these disparities. Both share their personal experiences and professional insights into health inequalities and how it shaped their understanding of social and economic disadvantages. They discuss the structural factors within society that lead to health inequalities and emphasise the importance of creating a fairer, more inclusive society. The conversation focusses on the role of clinicians in addressing health care inequalities and the need for continuous improvement in healthcare design and delivery.

Resources

Bridging the gap: a guide to making health inequalities a strategic priority for NHS leaders

A snapshot of UK doctors: experiences of health inequalities

Supporting clinicians to address health inequalities in practice

RCP view on health inequalities: a call to action for a cross-government strategy

Funding

This episode was funded by Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Limited. Vertex had no involvement in the creation and elaboration of this episode and all views and opinions expressed by the presenter and guests are solely their own.

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Music:

Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com

Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas

In this episode of the RCP Medicine podcast, Professor Ailsa Hart and Dr Eathar Shakweh discuss how to approach managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in the acute medical setting. This is the second episode of a 2-part series, with a focus on Crohn's disease. 

IBD is a common condition, affecting 1 in 123 people in the UK. The 2024 State of the IBD Care in the UK report highlighted the urgent need to shorten time to diagnosis and initiate early treatment to minimise the risk of IBD-related complications. Acute and general medicine physicians have an important role to play in diagnosing and managing IBD. This podcast will equip medics at all stages of training with the necessary knowledge to approach this heterogenous and complex condition. 

Professor Hart is Director of IBD Research at St Mark’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom and a world-leading expert in IBD. Eathar is an IBD Clinical Research Fellow at St Mark’s and Imperial, with a special interest in perianal fistulising Crohn’s disease. 

Crohn's & Colitis UK (CCUK) Website

https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/

This is a valuable resource for patients and healthcare professionals alike, containing a wealth of information on IBD investigation and management.

British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) - 2019

Lamb, Christopher Andrew et al. “British Society of Gastroenterology consensus guidelines on the management of inflammatory bowel disease in adults.” Gut vol. 68,Suppl 3 (2019): s1-s106. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2019-318484

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31562236/

For interested listeners, these are the national guidelines for IBD diagnosis and management. Please note, the new guidelines for 2025 are pending release.

ECCO Guidelines on Therapeutics in Crohn's disease: Medical Treatment

Torres, Joana et al. “ECCO Guidelines on Therapeutics in Crohn's Disease: Medical Treatment.” Journal of Crohn's & colitis vol. 14,1 (2020): 4-22. doi:10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjz180

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38877997/

ECCO Guidelines on Surgery in Crohn's disease: Surgical Treatment

Adamina, Michel et al. “ECCO Guidelines on Therapeutics in Crohn's Disease: Surgical Treatment.” Journal of Crohn's & colitis vol. 18,10 (2024): 1556-1582. doi:10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjae089

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38878002/

These are the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) guidelines on therapeutics in Crohn's disease, divided into medical and surgical treatment.

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Music:

Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com

Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas

In this episode of the RCP Medicine podcast, Professor Ailsa Hart and Dr Eathar Shakweh discuss how to approach managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in the acute medical setting. This is the first episode of a 2-part series, with a focus on ulcerative colitis.  

IBD is a common condition, affecting 1 in 123 people in the UK. The 2024 State of the IBD Care in the UK report highlighted the urgent need to shorten time to diagnosis and initiate early treatment to minimise the risk of IBD-related complications. Acute and general medicine physicians have an important role to play in diagnosing and managing IBD. This podcast will equip medics at all stages of training with the necessary knowledge to approach this heterogenous and complex condition. 

Professor Hart is Director of IBD Research at St Mark’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom and a world-leading expert in IBD. Eathar is an IBD Clinical Research Fellow at St Mark’s and Imperial, with a special interest in perianal fistulising Crohn’s disease. 

Crohn's & Colitis UK (CCUK) Website

https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/

This is a valuable resource for patients and healthcare professionals alike, containing a wealth of information on IBD investigation and management.

British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) - 2019

Lamb, Christopher Andrew et al. “British Society of Gastroenterology consensus guidelines on the management of inflammatory bowel disease in adults.” Gut vol. 68,Suppl 3 (2019): s1-s106. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2019-318484

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31562236/

For interested listeners, these are the national guidelines for IBD diagnosis and management. Please note, the new guidelines for 2025 are pending release.

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Music:

Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com

Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas

In this episode of RCP Medicine podcasts Dr Racheal Cheek and Dr Ben Chadwick discuss a common presentation to Acute Medicine. We use this as a springboard to discuss the differences that near patient testing can make in assisting rapid diagnosis and management on the Acute Medicine Unit, and how this can influence length of stay.

Dr Ben Chadwick is an Acute Medicine Consultant at Southampton General Hospital. He has a specialist interest in Medical Education and has previously been Training Programme Director for Acute Internal Medicine in Wessex and has chaired the Acute Internal Medicine Specialist Advisory Committee. He has recently been appointed to the Deputy Registrar role at the Royal College of Physicians.

Dr Racheal Cheek is an Acute Internal Medicine Registrar training in Wessex. She has been Chief Resident at University Hospitals Dorset, leading projects focused on improving patient safety. She is embracing new adventures whilst currently on maternity leave.   

Resources

Clinical impact of syndromic molecular point-of-care testing for gastrointestinal pathogens in adults hospitalised with suspected gastroenteritis (GastroPOC): a pragmatic, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Brendish, Nathan J et al. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Volume 23, Issue 8, 945 - 955

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Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com

Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas

In this episode of the RCP Medicine podcast, Rebecca Kuruvilla, a previous RCP clinical education fellow and an ST7 Clinical Pharmacology and GIM registrar talks with Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, an honorary consultant physician with a specialist interest in liver disease. They discuss the rising issue of alcohol-related harm in the UK, the impact of Covid-19 on alcohol misuse, and the role of regulation in reducing health harms. Professor Gilmore also shares insights on the changing drinking culture, the influence of the alcohol industry, and the importance of evidence-based policies to address this significant public health challenge. 

Professor Sir Ian Gilmore is an honorary consultant physician at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and holds an honorary chair at the University of Liverpool. With a specialist interest in liver disease, he has served as the president of the Royal College of Physicians and is the founding chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, a coalition of over 50 organizations working together to reduce the harm caused by alcohol. Professor Gilmore has been a vocal advocate for evidence-based policies to tackle alcohol misuse and has contributed significantly to public health research and policy.

Resources

Alcohol Health Alliance

Alcohol advice - NHS

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Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com

Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas

In this episode of RCP Medicine podcasts Dr Racheal Cheek and Dr Ben Chadwick discuss an interesting case involving a deteriorating patient and the challenges around appropriate escalation of care in the acute setting. We discuss the difficulties that can occur when dealing with a deteriorating patient, and think about different strategies to ensure that the right care can be given in the right environment.

Dr Ben Chadwick is an Acute Medicine Consultant at Southampton General Hospital. He has a specialist interest in Medical Education and has previously been Training Programme Director for Acute Internal Medicine in Wessex and has chaired the Acute Internal Medicine Specialist Advisory Committee. He has recently been appointed to the Deputy Registrar role at the Royal College of Physicians.

Dr Racheal Cheek is an Acute Internal Medicine Registrar training in Wessex. She has been Chief Resident at University Hospitals Dorset, leading projects focused on improving patient safety. She is embracing new adventures whilst currently on maternity leave.   

Resources

IDSA/ATS 2007 - NICE suggest for decisions regarding ICU admission that this clinical decision aid should be considered superior to PSI/CURB-65 for pneumonia
https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/44/Supplement_2/S27/372079

SBAR tool 

NEWS2 

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Music:

Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com

Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas

In this episode of RCP Medicine podcasts Dr Racheal Cheek and Dr Ben Chadwick discuss a challenging case of Deep Venous Thrombosis in a young patient. We discuss potential causes, and options for treatment, with reference to NICE guidance 

Dr Ben Chadwick is an Acute Medicine Consultant at Southampton General Hospital. He has a specialist interest in Medical Education and has previously been Training Programme Director for Acute Internal Medicine in Wessex and has chaired the Acute Internal Medicine Specialist Advisory Committee. He has recently been appointed to the Deputy Registrar role at the Royal College of Physicians.

Dr Racheal Cheek is an Acute Internal Medicine Registrar training in Wessex. She has been Chief Resident at University Hospitals Dorset, leading projects focused on improving patient safety. She is embracing new adventures whilst currently on maternity leave.   

References

Editor's Choice – European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) 2021 Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Venous Thrombosis - https://www.ejves.com/article/S1078-5884(20)30868-6/fulltext

NICE: Venous thromboembolic diseases: diagnosis, management and thrombophilia testing - https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng158

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Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com

Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas

In this episode of the RCP Medicine Podcast, Dr. Rohan Mehra, an Infectious Diseases/Microbiology SPR, discusses the critical role of behavioural science in addressing health inequalities. Decreased vaccine uptake and lack of engagement with healthcare services are pressing issues, particularly among those affected by health disparities. To shed light on these challenges, Rohan  is joined by Professor Susan Michie, a leading expert in health psychology and behaviour change from University College London. With her extensive research and practical expertise, Professor Michie explores how we can apply behavioural science to improve healthcare engagement and design effective interventions. Tune in to discover how understanding human behaviour can drive meaningful change in health outcomes.

References:

A synthesis of evidence for policy from behavioural science during COVID-19, Ruggeri et al.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06840-9

The human behaviour change project 

www.humanbehaviourchange.org

Complex Systems for Sustainability and Health

 https://www.ucl.ac.uk/complex-urban-systems/cussh.

Behaviour Change Wheel: A Guide to Designing Interventions 

www.behaviourchangewheel.com

WHO behavioural science group

https://www.who.int/initiatives/behavioural-sciences 

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Music:

Episode 50 onward - Bensound.com

Episodes 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas