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Dr Richard Fieldhouse is joined by Dr Helen Garr, Medical Director of NHS Practitioner Health, for a candid conversation about the mental health of the workforce. They discuss the unique pressures faced by sessional GPs and partners alike, moving beyond the standard "resilience" talk to address the reality of compassion fatigue and the "superhero" complex. Helen shares personal stories of her own career—including a wake-up call while working under a palm tree on holiday—and offers practical advice on how to build connection and psychological safety in a fragmented system.  Resources NHS Practitioner Health: https://www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/ NASGP LocumDeck: https://www.nasgp.org.uk/  Key Quotes "We give, we give, we give, until we fall off that cliff and we crash. And often the point at which people recognise they need some help is when things have got really quite bad.""There is no 'not unwell enough' to come to us. If you think things aren't quite right, please do reach out."

In this essential conversation, former GP Partner and Director of Training, Dr. Sarah Coope, charts her remarkable career from a young GP with a thirst for continuity to a specialist in clinician well-being and conflict resolution. Sarah shares how taking a risk on coaching early in her career proved transformational, leading her to discover her "joy in work" and ultimately protect herself from burnout. She breaks down the three degrees of burnout and offers immediately actionable, self-aware strategies—from the power of the midday break to identifying the 20% of your week that brings you purpose. This is a must-listen for any sessional GP looking to find stability, set boundaries, and manage the emotional load of modern general practice. Dr. Coope’s company also runs a ‘Permission to Thrive’ personal development community for doctors interested in ongoing support.

In this episode, Dr Richard Fieldhouse is joined by Dr Sarah Jacques to discuss her deeply personal experience with professional burnout, which led her to leave her GP partnership and re-evaluate her career. Dr Jacques details her transition to a balanced portfolio, combining a single clinical session per week with influential non-clinical roles in Doctors Association UK (DAUK) and the Medical Women's Federation (MWF). They explore the systemic issues driving GP dissatisfaction, the critical role of grassroots advocacy, and why uniting the entire Sessional workforce—locums, salaried, and partners—is essential to fight for a sustainable future for general practice against looming threats like the new GP contract and privatisation.

The biggest change to tax for self-employed GPs in decades is coming with Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax. Don't let new quarterly reporting requirements add to your administrative burden. Watch this webinar for the clear, calm, and practical guide you need to prepare your professional practice for April 2026. See slides Watch on YouTube What you will learn How to prepare for the MTD for Income Tax deadlines starting in April 2026 for Sessional GPs with self-employed earnings over £50K.The crucial role of LocumDeck as your professional toolkit in preparing seamless, MTD-compatible quarterly submissions, especially if you pension your income.Why setting up a separate business bank account now is key to creating a clean digital link and avoiding admin friction later.A breakdown of the new points-based penalty system and how to maintain workforce stability by staying compliant.Understanding the difference between the End of Period Statement and the Final Declaration (the new Self-Assessment). Contact  [email protected]@honeybarrett.co.uk01424 730345https://www.honeybarrettmedical.co.uk

We are delighted to welcome Dr Toni Hazell, the accomplished Chair of Haringey LMC, to *The art of GP locuming* podcast. Dr Hazell discusses her inspiring journey into General Practice, detailing how a pivotal rotation shifted her perspective away from the "failed surgeons" trope to recognising General Practice as "proper medicine," leading to a 21-year tenure as a salaried GP in Tottenham. She offers insights into managing a portfolio career, anchored by her clinical work and extensive role as a "full stack educationalist" for the RCGP, where she develops e-learning content and contributes to the Primary Care Women's Health Society. As LMC Chair, Dr Hazell advocates fiercely for general practice, highlighting the significant challenge of the "absolute tsunami of unresourced work" from secondary care—estimating it consumes at least one to two hours per clinical day—and emphasises the fundamental need for collective action to address this burden. Finally, she provides powerful career wisdom, encouraging fellow GPs, especially women in medicine, to be open to every professional opportunity, embrace iteration, and actively challenge imposter syndrome.

This episode offers a detailed clinical update on the early detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer, tailored for the primary care setting. Dr Bunmi Olajide, a GP with a special interest in cancer services and a Prostate Cancer UK Clinical Champion, presents an evidence-based review of the significant changes to the diagnostic pathway. The discussion highlights how the integration of multi-parametric MRI has led to a 79% reduction in the risk of harm and 90% fewer cases of post-procedure sepsis. Dr Olajide provides a nuanced analysis of risk stratification, addressing the significant health inequalities that result in a doubled risk for Black men. The discussion covers the clinical application of NICE guidelines, the interpretation of PSA results in the context of confounding factors, and the diminishing role of the DRE as a screening tool. This is an essential briefing for clinicians seeking to align their practice with the latest evidence in prostate cancer management. Key topics discussed in this episode: An overview of the current epidemiology of prostate cancer in the UK.A review of key risk factors, including the 1-in-4 lifetime risk for Black men.Practical application of the NICE NG12 guidelines and age-specific PSA thresholds.The Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme for managing asymptomatic men.The evolution of the diagnostic pathway and the role of multi-parametric MRI.A critical appraisal of the digital rectal examination (DRE) in screening for prostate cancer.An introduction to the large-scale Transform screening trial, which is examining approaches beyond PSA testing.Professional resources and educational opportunities for healthcare professionals.

Dr Lisa Harrod-Rothwell, Chief Executive Officer of Londonwide LMCs, reflects on her career trajectory from a salaried GP to prominent leadership roles in NHS commissioning and Londonwide LMCs. The discussion explores the formative experiences that shaped her commitment to holistic patient care and the challenges faced by general practice, including safe working conditions, continuity of care, and workforce retention. * Contact London LMCs https://www.lmc.org.uk/find-your-local-lmc/ Dr Harrod-Rothwell also offers insights into the evolving landscape of the NHS, particularly in the context of the 10-year plan, advocating for clinical autonomy and the active involvement of sessional GPs in shaping future healthcare models.

An informative discussion on acute leukaemia for general practitioners, led by consultant haematologist Steve Knapper. This episode provides an overview of acute leukaemia, its diagnosis, and management, with a focus on presentations encountered in primary care. Case studies illustrate the varied clinical manifestations and the importance of a low threshold for full blood count assessment. The discussion also covers referral pathways and the rapid progression of cases to definitive treatment in secondary care.

In this episode, we feature an insightful conversation with Dr Shana Tam, a GP based in Cheshire and a key representative on Cheshire LMC, where she also serves as Vice Chair. * YouTube – https://youtu.be/KKjXlJbB9mY Richard discusses Dr Tam's career progression, from an initial interest in palliative care to discovering her passion for general practice, driven by a desire to be 'embedded in the community' and a commitment to 'health promotion'. She shares her experiences, including GP training in Chester, her initial 'baptism of fire' as a maternity locum, navigating two distinct partnerships in Wales and England, and ultimately transitioning to a sessional GP role in late 2019. Dr Tam offers valuable insights on 'professional risk' and the significance of 'self-reflection' in career development. The conversation highlights her extensive work as the sessional GP representative and chair of the education group for Cheshire LMC. She explains how surveys have been instrumental in identifying challenges faced by sessional GPs, such as underemployment and unemployment, noting that some responses were 'one of the hardest things' she had to read. Her initiatives aim to equip GPs with essential skills, including marketing, CV writing, interviewing, and complaints handling, addressing crucial gaps often not covered in standard GP training. The discussion also covers the vital role of LMCs in supporting all GPs, regardless of contractual status, by providing confidential advice and signposting. Dr. Tam shares recommendations for other LMCs, emphasizing the 'valuable' contribution of sessional GPs and the 'fundamental' importance of professional unity for a secure future of general practice. Finally, Dr Tam provides a forward-looking perspective on the future of general practice, advocating for a clear vision, understanding 'our why,' embracing new developments like AI, and prioritizing 'safe working' supported by adequate funding. This serves as a powerful reminder that 'Everyone Counts' and 'Everyone has a voice' within the profession. We invite you to listen to this insightful discussion. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Shana Tam 00:57 - Shana's journey into General Practice 02:32 - First steps as a qualified GP: The locum years 05:19 - Navigating different partnerships and professional growth 07:40 - The art of professional risk and self-reflection 10:30 - Joining Cheshire LMC as a Sessional GP Rep 12:31 - Understanding and addressing Sessional GP needs 17:00 - The vital role of LMCs and supporting all GPs 18:27 - Advice for other LMCs 20:22 - Wisdom for GPs in 2025: Vision, Unity, and Embracing Change 24:49 - Conclusion and thank you If you find this episode beneficial, please consider subscribing and sharing it with your GP colleagues.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the NASGP podcast The art of GP locuming, Richard talks to Dr Amrita Sen Mukherjee — GP, wellbeing advocate, and founder of Your Wellbeing Doctor — about her extraordinary journey through medicine, motherhood, illness, and identity. Amrita shares how the challenges she faced during her GP training, including living with a hidden disability, ultimately led her to discover the concept of post-traumatic growth — transforming adversity into a purposeful new direction. She speaks candidly about the systemic pressures within general practice, the cultural barriers to self-compassion in medicine, and how she now supports other doctors through coaching, advocacy and education. This wide-ranging conversation offers GPs a moving reminder that it’s not weakness to struggle — and that growth often begins with self-kindness. YouTube – https://youtu.be/OZtFFWo8R7A Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/yourwellbeingdoctor X – https://x.com/Yourwellbeingdr LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-amrita-sen-mukherjee/ Website – https://www.yourwellbeing.doctor TEDx Talk entitled “Invisible disability: Challenging bias to enable change” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro3SbU95qwc Publication – https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/bjhp.12642

In this informative session, clinical psychologists Dr Jess Gough and Dr Alesia Moulton-Perkins from Neurodiverse Online (https://neurodiverseonline.com/) provide a comprehensive overview of ADHD and autism diagnosis, treatment, and patient care. They discuss the current healthcare landscape, highlighting the rising demand for neurodevelopmental assessments and the challenges in diagnosis, particularly for women, girls, and older adults.  Also available as a YouTube video https://youtu.be/HLEY7BQrjME The presentation covers key topics including: Prevalence and comorbidities of ADHD and autismDiagnostic criteria and screening toolsTreatment options (medication and non-pharmacological interventions)Health outcomes and importance of early interventionPractical advice for healthcare professionals on supporting neurodivergent patients The speakers emphasize the need for personalized, holistic approaches to diagnosis and treatment, with practical recommendations for creating more inclusive and supportive healthcare environments.

Join us for a insightful conversation with Dr Kalindi Tumurogoti, who explores his remarkable career path as an international medical graduate turned GP. Discover the supportive work of BAPIO, the challenges facing sessional GPs, and the critical role of local medical committees. Dr Tumurugoti shares personal experiences of transitioning from hospital medicine to general practice, emphasizing the unique aspects of GP work like patient continuity and holistic care. Learn about the professional support networks for international medical graduates and the current landscape of general practice in the UK.

Experienced nurse Claire Coughlan, clinical lead for Bowel Cancer UK, presents the NASGP’s second webinar given at 1pm on Thursday 6 February. The main aims of the talk were to give an overview of: -Bowel cancer and the red flag symptoms. -Use of qFIT in symptomatic patients. -The bowel cancer screening programme. -The diagnostic pathway. -Lynch Syndrome. -Bowel Cancer UK support services for GPs and patients. Claire Coughlan is a consultant nurse in colorectal cancer with expertise in bowel cancer follow-up, genetics and symptom assessment. Claire is currently undertaking a PhD in the priorities for bowel cancer follow up care across diverse communities. #TeamGP #BowelCancer #PrimaryCare

Tori Ferguson answers questions on taxes, expenses, national insurance, NHS and private pensions from experienced and new GP locums as well as GPs and GP registrars who are thinking of locuming for the first time in 2025. Also available on YouTube https://youtu.be/r0xu5p1PbWU As healthcare professionals, we understand the day-to-day challenges you face, which is why we founded NASGP. We are a supportive membership body for GP locums, and we are also home to LocumDeck – the award-winning workforce management platform for GP locums and practices: nasgp.org.uk Victoria (Tori) Ferguson BA Hons, ATT CTA: After working for the NHS Tori joined Honey Barrett in October 2016 as part of the tax team. In addition to dealing with personal tax clients, Tori forms part of the specialist medical team where she deals primarily with tax and pension-tax matters for our doctor clients, as well as assisting with GP practice accounts. The information contained in this podcast is for guidance only, and does not constitute advice given by Tori Ferguson or Honey Barrett. No responsibility can or will be accepted for loss occasioned to any person or entity as a result of action taken or refrained from in consequence of the contents of this article. Professional advice should be obtained before acting on any information contained herein, from your own accountant, or by contacting Tori for a free initial consultation.

This podcast features Dr Sarah Smith, a GP and member of the @leukaemiacare advisory panel, discussing the importance of early diagnosis of acute leukaemia.  Learn how:  Leukaemia is often diagnosed late, with 37% of cases first identified in A&E, leading to poorer outcomes.  Common leukaemia symptoms include fatigue, repeated infections, bruising, and bleeding.  Symptoms like shortness of breath, fever, night sweats, and bone/joint pain can also be indicators of leukaemia.GPs are advised to have a low threshold for ordering full blood counts if leukaemia is suspected, and to act quickly to get results. The emotional impact of a leukaemia diagnosis is significant, so GPs must communicate sensitively when raising concerns. #Leukaemia #EarlyDiagnosis #GPEducation #BloodCancer #MedicalEducation