Emma speaks to Patrick Denston about how GP practices can make the best use of new tech and what the next five years could hold.

Patrick is a PCN digital transformation and change manager and a practice business manager based in Farnborough, Hampshire, as well as an NHS England AI peer ambassador.

He has a proven track record of successfully introducing new technology into general practice. In this conversation, Patrick explains how his practice has moved away from manual, paper-based processes to embrace digital and AI tools and advanced data analytics.

He discusses how these tools are helping to improve access and address other challenges in the practice and also shares some very practical advice for other practices looking to embrace new tech, including how to navigate the busy market of tech suppliers.

Emma and Patrick also look ahead to the future of general practice, discussing the government’s 10-year plan and how AI and data-led population health management could fundamentally change the way practices operate over the next five years.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Viewpoint: How can general practice make best use of AI?

AI tools in general practice and liability - advice for GPs

Using AI transcribing software in general practice - medicolegal considerations

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Emma and Nick talk about some key news stories from the end of December and the start of this year linked to issues where we are expecting some major developments in the early part of 2026.

They talk about the 2026/27 GP contract, what the BMA and RCGP have said the contract needs to address, as well as some of their own predictions about what could happen.

They look at what comes next with neighbourhoods and how general practice can ensure it is protected against big changes that could be coming down the track.

And they discuss the impact the ongoing jobs crisis is having on the profession in England and what the government could do to address this in both the GP contract and the forthcoming workforce plan.

This week’s good news story is about the GPs and other general practice staff awarded new year honours.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Submit your case studies highlighting good work in your practice to GP Business here.

Useful links

GPs, practice nurses and practice manager recognised in New Year Honours

BMA reveals GP contract demands for 2026/27

New RCGP chair outlines college response to GP contract consultation

GPs forming huge companies to bid for neighbourhood contracts

Registrars delay qualifying as GPs amid 'bleak' job market

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Emma speaks to the new chair of the Royal College of GPs Dr Victoria Tzortziou Brown, who took on the post at the end of November.

Victoria is the first international medical graduate to chair the college and has worked as a GP in East London for 20 years.

In this conversation, Victoria sets out her priorities for her time as chair, including defining the role of general practice in a changing healthcare system, tackling workload pressures and ensuring new technology supports GPs in practice - and why the college is running a consultation with members on these key issues.

She explains why she wants to bring hope back to the profession and help make general practice a sustainable and fulfilling career once again and highlights the importance of the college championing continuity of care as part of this.

Victoria also talks about the college's relationship with the government, her views on plans for a neighbourhood NHS and the current jobs crisis facing GPs, as well as the college's ongoing campaign to secure better visa rights for IMG GP registrars.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Details of the RCGP consultation on its key priorities

Low pay could force IMG GPs to quit UK, doctors warn

Quarter of GPs use AI but 'wild west' rollout sparks safety fears

Nuffield Trust/RCGP report on how GPs are using AI

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Emma speaks to Dr Vish Ratnasuriya, a GP partner and the elected chair of Our Health Partnership, one of the UK’s largest super partnerships. Vish was also recently appointed as a member of the newly formed National Commission for the Regulation of AI in Healthcare.

In this episode, Vish explains how Our Health Partnership;s ‘decentralized’ super partnership model helps support practices while retaining local autonomy. He discusses the advantages of working at scale and the shift towards neighborhood working - and shares his views on why general practice needs to lead on this work and the opportunities for moving more care out of hospitals and into the community.

He also talks about the huge role technology and AI will play in the future of the NHS. Vish explains what the new national commission aims to achieve and the vital importance of establishing clear rules on liability and safety for new technologies.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Our Health Partnership

National Commission for the Regulations of AI in Healthcare

Primary Care Accelerator

West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator

Quarter of GPs use AI but 'wild west' rollout sparks safety fears

Viewpoint: How can general practice make best use of AI?

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In this special bonus episode Talking General Practice speaks to consultant nephrologist Dr Shafi Malik about the heightened risk of genetic kidney conditions among South Asian populations.

In this conversation, Dr Malik explains why patients of South Asian origin are more at risk of genetic kidney disease and how common these conditions are. He talks specifically about primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1), the symptoms patients might present with if they have this condition - including recurrent kidney stones - and, as kidney stones are a common presentation, how healthcare professionals can recognise when these cases may warrant further investigation.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

This episode of Talking General Practice has been funded by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and produced in collaboration with GPonline. It is intended for UK healthcare professionals only.

Useful links

ThinkPH1.eu

National Kidney Federation – PH1

About Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

Alnylam is a leading biopharmaceutical company and the pioneer in RNA interference (RNAi), a revolutionary approach to treating diseases which “silences” the genes that cause or contribute to them. Founded in 2002 by a group of distinguished researchers and biotech leaders, Alnylam has translated the Nobel Prize-winning science of RNAi into an innovative class of medicines, with the belief that the RNAi approach to treating disease has the potential to help people around the world live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.

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The GPonline team discusses the ongoing dispute between the government and the BMA GP committee in England after a GP and member of the BMA Council and BMA GP committee reported health and social care secretary Wes Streeting to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards for the language he’s used about the BMA in the dispute.

They also look at the internal politics at the BMA itself after a member of the GP committee resigned citing concerns about a 'toxic and unbearable' environment.

And they talk about AI in general practice, following a report by the Nuffield Trust think tank and the RCGP about how GPs are using new tech and some of the concerns about how it is being rolled out.

Our good news story is about a GP who is bidding to become Christmas number 1 with her song song that forms part of a campaign challenging stigma around women’s anatomy and periods.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

GP makes formal complaint over Wes Streeting behaviour towards BMA

Doctor resigns from BMA England GP committee claiming it is 'toxic and unbearable’

How could 'wider consultation' shape the GP contract for 2026/27?

Quarter of GPs use AI but 'wild west' rollout sparks safety fears

Viewpoint: How can general practice make best use of AI?

Dr Aziza Sesay’s song

Download on Spotify

Download on Apple

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Emma speaks to Dr Katie Bramall, chair of the BMA’s GP committee in England.

In this conversation, Katie talks about the current dispute with the government over online access changes. She responds to the recent letter sent to GPs by health secretary Wes Streeting, which accused her of 'unprofessional behaviour' and misleading the profession over contract changes, and explains why she believes trust between the profession and the government has evaporated.

Katie also talks about the next steps in the dispute, explaining why there is no immediate plan for a ballot on industrial action, and discusses her concerns about the 10-year health plan and what this could all mean for future GP contracts.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

How could 'wider consultation' shape the GP contract for 2026/27?

Government hails online consultation rollout but ignores impact on practices

Timeline: How general practice re-entered dispute with the government

GP makes formal complaint over Wes Streeting behaviour towards BMA

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The GPonline team discusses the key news stories affecting general practice.

The team talks about GP contract negotiations after the government confirmed it intended to talk to key stakeholders alongside the BMA as part of putting together next year’s deal - and health and social care secretary Wes Streeting wrote to the profession accusing the GP committee chair of lies and unprofessional behaviour.

They discuss this week’s budget and what some of the measures outlined by the government could mean for general practice.

And Kimberley talks about an article she wrote recently interviewing a GP who has spent time working in Gaza.

Our good news story this week is about patients and a neighbouring surgery rallying around to help a practice that was severely affected by flooding in the wake of the recent Storm Claudia.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

UK GP shares her experiences of working in war-torn Gaza

Streeting accuses BMA GP chair of lies and 'unprofessional' behaviour

Timeline: How general practice re-entered dispute with the government

What does the autumn budget mean for GPs?

Neighbouring surgery and patients rally round GP practice flooded by Storm Claudia

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Emma speaks to Dr Luke Sayers, a GP partner and the project lead for continuity of care at North East and North Cumbria ICB, and Dr Tom Kennedy, a GP registrar and ICB clinical fellow, about the importance of continuity of care.

Luke and Tom explain why continuity is so vital for both patients and doctors, discussing the evidence that shows it improves patient safety and reduces mortality, as well as the positive impact it has on GP job satisfaction and retention.

They discuss the misconception that focusing on continuity negatively impacts access, and they explain why the reverse is often true. They also set out practical steps practices can take to improve and measure continuity, including the use of micro-teams and personal lists, and how this way of working fits into the vision of a neighbourhood NHS.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Building relational continuity of care in your practice - the poster Luke presented at the RCGP annual conference this year

What makes general practice work: the role of continuity in efficient and sustainable primary care - the BJGP paper by Professor Tom Marshall that Luke mentions in this episode

Continuity Counts website, which Tom mentions in this interview

Value of GP continuity risks 'slipping from collective memory' - story about the RCGP talk that Emma mentions (on GPonline)

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The GPonline team discusses the key news stories affecting general practice’

Nick, Emma and Kimberley look at what went on at last week’s England LMCs conference, including the results of some key votes on balloting the profession on industrial action and the types of action GPs might take. They discuss whether GPs would vote in favour of such measures and some of the other key concerns raised at that conference.

Nick explains how the GP workforce has changed over the last decade now we’ve reached the landmark point of having 10 years worth of GP workforce statistics.

And Kimberley highlights this week’s good news story which is about a practice in Glasgow whose staff entered this year’s Great Scottish Run.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

LMCs demand ballot on action including 'full-day walkouts'

GP leaders threaten mass resignation from practice contracts

Boycott neighbourhoods unless they are GP-led, say LMCs

LMCs back 'non-compliance' with online access contract requirements

Government accuses GPs of 'standing in the way of change'

ARRS driving 'two-tier' GP job market and low pay, warn LMCs

How has the GP workforce changed after 10 years of promises?

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