Pulse reports on Working as a GP in New Zealand

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

Pulse is releasing a report into working as a UK-trained GP in New Zealand, focusing on areas such as visa requirements, pay, the way the health system works and the lifestyle across the two islands.

The 24-page guide, which will be serialised into five parts on Pulse, follows a Pulse survey last year of more than 1,000 GPs found that around one in three had considered relocating to New Zealand, which was only behind Canada and Australia in terms of popularity.  

It looks at the positives and negatives of living and working in New Zealand, comparing pay rates and cost-of-living, taxation and transferring NHS pensions. It also looks at the lifestyle in various parts of the country, from the more energetic, cosmopolitan lifestyle of the cities in the north to the stunning scenery and outdoors lifestyle of the South Island.

This guide follows a January 2025 white paper by Pulse’s publishers Cogora, which showed the extend of the number of GPs who are underemployed in the UK, leading many to look overseas for work. Equally, it comes at a time when New Zealand are in need of GPs themselves.

The paper is supported by Good Together, a New Zealand-based medical recruitment and workforce support organisation, working across primary care and hospital services.

Director Moana Bywater said: We ‘We are pleased to contribute to this guide, as we believe it is important that doctors considering a move to New Zealand have a clear and balanced understanding of what working and living here involves. While New Zealand offers a professionally and personally appealing lifestyle for many, it may not be the right fit for everyone. Our focus is on ensuring doctors are well informed and well supported, so they can make decisions that are right for them.’

You can read the full Working as a GP in New Zealand report here.

If you are interested in finding out more about Pulse Careers sponsorship opportunities, please get in touch with us today.

Pulse in Focus Podcast: False penicillin allergies; when back pain could be cancer; and Gerada at Pulse LIVE

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

In this month’s Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs episode, the team reports exclusively from Pulse LIVE London. Pulse’s editorial adviser Dr Keith Hopcroft takes us through his favourite clinical sessions, and Pulse editor Sofia Lind gives us the highlights from her Big Interview with Baroness Clare Gerada.

Dr Hopcroft interviews Dr Stephanie Kayode, consultant allergist at the department of adult allergy at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. She explores how GPs can identify patients who are falsely labelled as having a penicillin allergy, and how GPs should go about attempting to de-label them.

He then speaks to GP, locum consultant in pain and musculoskeletal medicine and NHS Northwest London musculoskeletal and diagnostics clinical lead Dr Imran Sajid, about how GPs can assess and manage back pain with or without sciatica or radiculopathy in primary care – including when it could indicate bone cancer.

Lastly, Sofia and Baroness Gerada discuss the failed assisted dying bill and how it may return, what GPs can do to get policy makers to sit up and listen, and how general practice can learn to work with AI.

GPs can continue their learning by registering for our upcoming Pulse Virtual Events. These events are designed for GPs and primary care professionals seeking practical, CPD-accredited clinical updates and expert-led insights they can apply straight into everyday consultations. Taking place in May, we’ll be focusing on Chronic Conditions, Dermatology and Diabetes, and in June, Women’s Health, Urology and Dermatology.

We’ll also be travelling to Birmingham, Newcastle, Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast and Liverpool this year, delivering our Pulse LIVE Events.

Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs is hosted on Buzzsprout but you can find it wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to the full episcode here.

Pulse provides an indispensable and comprehensive range of trusted content that meets the needs of all GPs, through its political and financial news, cutting-edge investigations, clinical updates or practical business advice. Last month, the podcast explored the new guidance from NICE, recommending use of weight loss drug semaglutide (Wegovy) to prevent heart attack and stroke.

Nominations are now open for the General Practice Awards 2026

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

The time has come once again to start preparing your award-winning entries for the General Practice Awards 2026!

Time to reflect back on the past 12 months and choose the highlights you want to share with us in the hopes of being crowned a General Practice Awards 2026 winner.

Perhaps you work with an outstanding colleague who has gone the extra mile in delivering brilliant patient care. Maybe your team has delivered an initiative that has made a real difference to patients, staff or the wider community. Whatever your success story, now is the time to put it forward.

Sounds like your team? Then make sure you visit the website and submit your entry today.

We have all your favourite categories returning this year, including GP of the Year, the Nursing Award, Clinical Improvement Awards, PCN of the Year, and Practice Manager of the Year.

Suppliers also have the chance to be recognised for the vital role they play in supporting general practice. Categories covering areas such as AI-powered solutions, legal services, and premises and infrastructure will highlight the organisations helping practices respond to change, improve efficiency and deliver better care.

Take a look at all of this year’s categories here.

We are also delighted to welcome back General Practice Solutions (GPS) as a Gold Sponsor of the General Practice Awards 2026.

Deadline to enter: 13 May 2026.

The General Practice Awards are delivered in partnership with our media brands Pulse, Pulse PCN, Nursing in Practice, The Pharmacist, Management in Practice and Healthcare Leader.

The 2025 General Practice Awards welcomed over 670 guests from across primary care and the community, as well as healthcare industry representatives. The event highlighted the commitment, dedication, and passion of teams and individuals working across the UK.

Cogora shortlisted for four British Society of Magazine Editors Talent Awards

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

We are thrilled to announce that Cogora has been shortlisted for four awards at this year’s British Society of Magazine Editors (BSME) Talent Awards.

The BSME Talent Awards celebrate editorial excellence, best practice and groundbreaking creativity and innovation among grassroots teams across all digital, print and social platforms. 

Pulse’s deputy news editor Anna Colivicchi has been shortlisted for ‘best writer – news’, while Pulse’s reporter Harry Hetherington has been nominated for ‘best new writer’ alongside The Pharmacist’s reporter Emily Warner.

Anna became deputy news editor in April last year, after spending two years as a senior reporter at Pulse, and reporting at a variety of local newspapers for four years prior to that. In her role as deputy news editor, she has continued to break exclusive stories for Pulse that shed light on the biggest issues affecting GPs, as well as taking on more editorial responsibility for the brand.

Harry joined Pulse last June and, in his first full-time role as a reporter, has produced agenda-setting journalism. Just a month into the role, he questioned the health secretary about the Government’s intentions on the future of the GP partnership model, and has since continued to find and break exclusive stories, tackling complex issues and turning them into compelling journalism for our audience.

Since joining The Pharmacist in August 2025 Emily has built strong relationships with contacts, conducted in-depth investigations, written person-led features and interviewed influential figures across the sector. Her work has led to a doubling of impressions for the brand in a highly competitive market.

In particular she has tracked ceaseless changes in the weight-loss medications market including Eli Lilly’s major price hike and the warnings that patients will turn to counterfeit drugs. Emily has also written about pharmacists facing abuse from patients and the shift towards independent prescribing.

Anna and Harry have also been shortlisted for ‘best section editor/team – B2B’ as the Pulse news team, alongside senior journalist Maya Dhillon, for their work over the year on the Leng Review’s implications, the 10-year health plan and their exclusive coverage of the BMA’s fall out with the Government over the GP contract.

The winners will be announced on 13 May.

These nominations follow several awards for the Pulse team in the past year, including editor-in-chief Jaimie Kaffash winning a BSME award in November for his work on Cogora Insight, looking at access and recruitment in general practice, and Maya winning for her ‘important’ journalism, shining a light on the negative impact of misleading GP headlines. The Pharmacist was also awarded ‘Best Support for Independent Pharmacists’ at the Avicenna media awards at the start of the year.

Pulse in Focus Podcast: Weight loss drugs for CVD prevention; and the BMA’s GP collective action dilemma

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

The latest episode of Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs unpicks the new guidance from NICE, recommending use of weight loss drug semaglutide (Wegovy) to prevent heart attack and stroke.

Pulse editorial adviser Dr Keith Hopcroft is joined by Professor Ahmet Fuat, honorary professor of primary care cardiology at Durham University and GP with extended role in cardiorenal medicine.

The pair discuss the evidence base behind the recommendation, what the roll out might look like, who is eligible, who will be responsible for managing care, and how it fits in with existing NICE guidance on treating patients with type 2 diabetes with SGLT-2 inhibitors.

Professor Fuat also considers whether semaglutide has the potential to go to be used as a prevention tool in the future, in the same way as statins and aspirin.

We round up our episode with editor Sofia Lind discussing where general practice stands following a referendum on the 26/27 GP contract, in which 98.9% rejected the Government’s imposed changes.

She tells senior journalist Maya Dhillon about ‘the difficult position’ she believes the GPC has put itself in, by threatening collective action by 30 April (unless the Government pauses its implementation of ‘mandatory’ A&G) as the committee will not want to miss out on negotiations about a new GMS contract with the health secretary.

Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs is hosted on Buzzsprout but you can find it wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to the full episcode here.

Pulse provides an indispensable and comprehensive range of trusted content that meets the needs of all GPs, through its political and financial news, cutting-edge investigations, clinical updates or practical business advice. Last month, the podcast explored the changes introduced by the 2026/27 GP contract.

Pulse and Management in Practice launch a survey on GP recruitment and unemployment

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

Pulse and Management in Practice are launching a new survey of GPs across the UK to better understand the current recruitment and unemployment crisis within general practice, and the workload involved with processing complaints.

The survey will be used to inform our influential white papers from Cogora Insight, similar to those on workforce and access, which influenced the GP contract. A paper on the patient complaints and GMC investigation process will be launched at Pulse LIVE Birmingham on 10 June, supported by Medical Protection Society.

Other topics in the survey are estates funding, local enhanced services and the neighbourhood contracts for GPs in England.

Pulse editor in chief Jaimie Kaffash said: ‘GP practices across the UK are struggling, but our surveys provide them with the outlet to say what is really happening. In England especially, the Government is removing the voice of GPs with the imposition of this year’s contract.

‘By taking our survey, readers can change the narrative. Our findings are regularly picked up by national media, which helps redress the balance around the reporting of general practice.’

For information regarding our future surveys and whitepapers across our media brands, and sponsorship opportunities, please contact us today.

Hall of Heroes – Call for case studies

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

As part of our upcoming Community Pharmacy & General Practice Conference (21-22 June 2026), primary care teams are invited to share their work in the Hall of Heroes Networking Zone.

This dedicated space will spotlight real examples of collaboration between General Practice and Community Pharmacy , highlighting real experiences and practical impact. Submissions are welcomed from a wide range of settings, including GP practices, community pharmacy teams, PCNs, ICBs, neighbourhood sites and place-based partnerships.

From local initiatives and small pilots to system-wide programmes, we’re looking for practical stories that demonstrate how teams are working together to strengthen neighbourhood care.

Twenty of the best submissions will then be selected and transformed into eye-catching posters for display in the Hall of Heroes. Some teams will also be invited to take part in lightning talks, networking sessions, and implementation discussions at the event.

All accepted case studies will be published on the conference website and potentially featured in a post-event report – offering valuable recognition and the chance to inspire others across the network.

In partnership with the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), this new event, the Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference, will bring together 1,000+ professionals from across community pharmacy, general practice and wider primary care – redefining neighbourhood health.

Event partners include the Community Pharmacy England, Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE), the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing, the PMA, and the PCPA.

Pulse in Focus Podcast: Changes introduced by the GP contract

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

In the latest episode of Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs, senior Pulse journalist Maya Dhillon is joined by Anna Colivicchi, deputy news editor, and Dr Keith Hopcroft, GP and editorial adviser, to analyse and explain the changes introduced by the 2026/27 GP contract.

The trio go through all the major headlines – including new same-day requirements around ‘clinically urgent patients’, a shift in funding for a new practice-level recruitment scheme, and mandated collaboration between practices and ICBs.

Anna and Keith discuss the absorption of advice and guidance (A&G) from an enhanced service into the core contract, contemplating how this ‘blurs’ the line between GP and specialist remit; and how this will work in practice.

The discussion comes as NHS England’s national director for primary care Dr Amanda Doyle wrote exclusively for Pulse, explaining their rationale for the move.

Keith also provides a handy overview of the changes to QOF, including the addition of two new obesity indicators and the provision of ‘improvement incentives’ for childhood vaccination rates.

Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs is hosted on Buzzsprout but you can find it wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to the full episcode here.

Pulse provides an indispensable and comprehensive range of trusted content that meets the needs of all GPs, through its political and financial news, cutting-edge investigations, clinical updates or practical business advice. Last month, the podcast explored the the GP contract negotiations and whether GPs should lower elderly antibiotic prescribing threshold.

Vaccinations and Immunisation: A new virtual event for primary care clinicians

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

From Pulse 365 and Nursing in Practice 365, and in partnership with The Pharmacist and Management in Practice, we have launched a new virtual event, Vaccinations and Immunisation.  

Open to a range of primary care professionals, including GPs, nurses, pharmacists and practice managers, this event delivers education and the latest clinical guidance to the professionals who are on the frontline of vaccine delivery. 

Taking place on Tuesday, 6 May 2026, this free online event has been put together to help primary care clinicians feel more confident and better supported around vaccination delivery. It’s a full day online, with expert speakers, panel discussions and live Q&A throughout. 

Vaccination programmes are changing fast. Primary care teams are being asked to do more, from rolling out new vaccines like the gonorrhoea programme to managing growing patient hesitancy and addressing real inequalities in uptake. This event is a chance to get up to speed, ask questions and hear from clinicians who are working through the same challenges. 

Sessions will cover pneumococcal disease and shingles, the gonorrhoea vaccine programme, seasonal vaccine selection and procurement, flu, RSV and the wider respiratory vaccine landscape, and travel vaccines. There are also two panel discussions focused on vaccine hesitancy and equity in immunisation. Nurses and GPs can claim 5.25 hours of CPD accreditation for attending. 

The event will be promoted across Pulse, Nursing in Practice, The Pharmacist and Management in Practice, reaching our communities of GPs, nurses, pharmacists and practice managers across the UK.  

Registration is now open. To find out more visit the event website. For sponsorship and partnership opportunities across our future Cogora events, please contact us today.  

This event is run at arm’s length from the financial supporters including Sanofi and all content was created by the faculty. No funder has had input into the content of the materials or presentations. CSL has provided funding towards this independent programme and has had no input into the agenda, speaker selection, or content of the event.

Cogora brands lead the way in coverage of the latest GP contract

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

The end of February proved to be one of the busiest times for Cogora’s editorial team as the release of the 2026/27 GP contract saw in-depth coverage across our primary care brands.

A letter sent to GP practices on February Tuesday 24th and seen by the editorial team, outlined a £485m funding uplift to general practice, alongside changes to workforce funding, prevention initiatives and an additional £25m available under the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF).    

Cogora’s brands responded quickly as all the details emerged from the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, with breaking news, analysis and opinions tailored to their own audiences focusing on how the changes would affect those in general practice and the wider NHS when they come into force in April.

Through our coordinated reporting we were also able to demonstrate the strength of Cogora’s multi-brand ecosystem, as the editorial team was able to provide insight into how the new GP contract affects the whole of the primary care workforce.

Pulse led coverage for their grassroot GP audience and continues to do so with a dedicated hub on its website housing more than 22 news stories, analysis and blogs, including A full breakdown of what the changes mean and reaction from the Pulse editor Sofia Lind.

For practice managers, Management in Practice reported on the contract’s financial and organisational implications and published opinions from the sector.

And Pulse PCN examined the impact on primary care networks and the clinical directors who run them; highlighting how funding previously earmarked for PCN level capacity and access payments (CAP) would be redirected to support the recruitment of additional GPs and practice sessions.

Healthcare Leader provided a broader system-level perspective, analysing the funding changes and updates to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) and what they could mean for integrated care systems and primary care leadership.

Cogora’s coverage also explored the contract’s implications for the wider multidisciplinary team. The Pharmacist reported on the expansion of obesity management in primary care, including increased access to weight-loss injections, as well as workforce developments such as proposals to include experienced GPs within ARRS.

Nursing in Practice ensured the nursing perspective was represented, covering concerns from the Royal College of Nursing that the new contract risks overlooking the contribution of general practice nurses within the primary care workforce.

And the coverage does not stop there with more to come in March; Pulse is recording its latest Pulse in Focus podcast on the new GP contract this week.

Outline agenda revealed for Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference 

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

The outline agenda has been published for the inaugural Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference, offering the first detailed look at the sessions that will shape two days of collaboration across primary care. 

Delivered in partnership with the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), the free, CPD-accredited event will take place at the National Conference Centre, Birmingham, on 21–22 June 2026. It will bring together community pharmacists, GPs, nurses, GP and PCN pharmacists,  pharmacy technicians, practice managers, PCN leaders and ICB representatives for two days of practical learning and meaningful cross-sector dialogue. 

The agenda delivers a structured two-day programme featuring practical, case-based sessions across three rooms, grouped around five core streams: 

  • Collaboration in Action 
  • Business and Service Innovation 
  • Leadership and Workforce 
  • Technology and AI for Integration 
  • Clinical Skills Booster 

It is designed to share practical, case-based learning to help drive stronger collaboration between general practice and community pharmacy. 

Across the programme, sessions will explore integrated care pathways, neighbourhood working in action, digital integration, medicines optimisation, workforce development and practical solutions to shared system challenges. The agenda has been designed to deliver implementable insight that supports professionals navigating rising demand, workforce pressures and neighbourhood reform. 

The Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference will also host the National Pharmacy Association Members’ Forum, GP Pharmacy in Focus (with the Primary Care Pharmacy Association), a dedicated Networking Zone running throughout both days, and an evening drinks reception to facilitate relationship-building across sectors. 

Worth 10 CPD points and free to attend, the event is positioned as a national meeting point for professionals committed to strengthening collaboration between general practice and community pharmacy. 

The PCPA, Community Pharmacy England, the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing, the PMA and Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education have joined as partners for this event.

Partnership opportunities across the conference allow you to influence the direction of primary care and position your organisation as a trusted partner in transformation. Contact us today to discuss our full range of opportunities. 

Pulse investigation: How GPs are being told to limit NHS Health Checks

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

Pulse has launched its latest investigation into the prevention programme NHS Health Check.

The Pulse investigation uncovered that GP practices could carry out more checks for heart disease and diabetes as part of the programme, but are being limited by caps imposed by local authorities.

The prevention programme is meant to be open to all adults aged 40 to 74 years old who do not have any pre-existing health conditions – such as stroke, diabetes, kidney disease and certain heart conditions – and patients have been encouraged in national messaging to ‘book with their GP’.  

New FOI data gathered by Pulse as part of the investigation has uncovered that more than 70 local authorities out of 151 in charge of commissioning the programme declared they are limiting the number of health checks that GP practices can carry out and be reimbursed for per year – and GPs warned this is effectively limiting the number of patients that can access the checks.  

The investigation comprises of several pieces exposing how GPs are being told to limit the checks, and whether the checks are clinically useful. It also includes an opinion piece from the Health Foundation which highlighted how Pulse’s journalism has exposes ‘fundamental weaknesses in how England designs, funds and delivers prevention’.

The main findings of the investigation were also covered by The Independent. You can read the full investigation here.

Pulse provides an indispensable and comprehensive range of trusted content that meets the needs of all GPs, through its political and financial news, cutting-edge investigations, clinical updates or practical business advice. 

Cogora’s new podcast formats

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

Across Pulse, Pulse PCN and Nursing in Practice, our brand new podcast formats spotlight key topics and deliver valuable insights.

Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs is Pulse’s monthly podcast bringing our audience the biggest stories in general practice with in-depth analysis and discussion from our award-winning team of journalists.

Episodes include a clinical segment, where our resident GP Dr Keith Hopcroft discusses the latest developments in practice, analysis of the biggest headlines, excerpts from key speakers at our live conferences, with analysis and reflection from our team.

For 2026, we plan to continue delivering clinical discussions, dissecting big news stories, and showcasing the keynote speakers we have at Pulse LIVE.

The Pulse PCN Podcast looks at the biggest issues facing primary care networks across England. We interview clinical directors and primary care experts on topics including capacity and access and deploying AI in primary care.

The quarterly podcast is a chance to discuss these topics in depth, to highlight what PCN listeners need to know and understand how other PCNs are tackling these issues.

For 2026, we plan to look at Neighbourhood Health Centres, ADHD, learning disabilities and women’s health.

Then, the Nursing in Practice Podcast shares the voices of nurses at the centre of general practice and in the community. Episodes feature innovation in nursing in primary and community care, the nursing view on important clinical advances, and highlights key issues for the nursing profession.

For 2026, we plan to feature upcoming changes to the childhood immunisations programme, including the chickenpox vaccination programme, as well as focus on our How Nurses Count campaign, our annual nurses’ salary survey and more.

Together, these launches signal the beginning of Cogora’s wider podcast strategy, with further rollouts planned across our media brands later this year.

Across all our podcasts, flexible sponsorship packages are available for brands seeking meaningful exposure. Gain direct access to your target audience by aligning your brand with trusted content and showcasing it alongside expert insights and conversations. Contact us today to discuss sponsorship opportunities.

Community Pharmacy England’s partnership with our Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

We are pleased to announce a new partnership between our Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference and Community Pharmacy England.

Community Pharmacy England is the voice of community pharmacy in England, representing community pharmacy businesses of all sizes and negotiating the NHS Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework under which all community pharmacies operate.

Commenting on the partnership, Janet Morrison, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy England, said:

‘Community Pharmacy England is pleased to support the new Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference. With both sectors under immense pressure and a government ambition to shift healthcare from hospital to community, strengthening primary care collaboration has never been more important. 

Our long-standing collaborative partnership with our fellow primary care bodies – including jointly organised Parliamentary briefing events and shared policy initiatives – has been immensely beneficial. This conference provides another opportunity to reinforce those relationships, share practical solutions, and work together to implement the integrated neighbourhood health service our patients and communities need.’

In partnership with the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), this event, the Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference, will bring together 1,000+ professionals from across community pharmacy, general practice and wider primary care – redefining neighbourhood health.

Taking place 21-22 June 2026, at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham, this national event will welcome community pharmacists, GPs, practice managers, GP and PCN pharmacists, PCN and ICB leaders, nurses and more, for two days of real-world learning, implementable ideas, and meaningful relationship building.

Community Pharmacy England join the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing, the PMA, and Primary Care Pharmacy Association as partners for this event.

Partnership opportunities allow you to influence the direction of primary care and position your organisation as a trusted partner in transformation.

The PMA partnership with our Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

We are pleased to announce a new partnership between our Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference and the PMA.

The PMA is the leading professional membership body for the healthcare sector, providing professional recognition, progressive development and career pathway support for practice managers and other non-clinicians.

Ian Jones, Director and Joint Founder of the PMA, welcomed the partnership with the Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference, by highlighting the shared commitment between general practice and community pharmacy. He said:

‘PMA is delighted to be partnering with the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and Cogora to bring this unique and unifying conference for Community Pharmacy and General Practice. The PMA and NPA together demonstrate that general practice and the independent pharmacies are committed to a multi-disciplinary primary care and that a collective voice is heard loud and clear. Through the event we will recognise pharmacy’s changing role; not just as a medicine-dispensing hub, but as a cornerstone of neighbourhood healthcare.

The conference will provide a balance of strategic insight, practical tools and forward-thinking innovation, all underpinned by a community ready to evolve… a pivotal moment and an inspiring call to action for General Practice and Community Pharmacy.’

In partnership with the NPA, this new event, the Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference, will bring together 1,000+ professionals from across community pharmacy, general practice and wider primary care – redefining neighbourhood health.

Taking place 21-22 June 2026, at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham, this national event will welcome community pharmacists, GPs, practice managers, GP and PCN pharmacists, PCN and ICB leaders, nurses and more, for two days of real-world learning, implementable ideas, and meaningful relationship building.

Tracy Dell, practice business manager representing the PMA on our advisory committee, said that practice managers ‘are in a good position to create and maintain strong working relationships with their community pharmacy colleagues’. 

She added: ‘Collaboration isn’t just about sharing tasks and focusing on delivering our contracts – it’s about trust, insight, respect and awareness of each other’s abilities and functions, and a common goal of better patient outcomes.

‘We need to acknowledge that community pharmacy is part of the NHS and jointly demonstrate the NHS is seamless which is how it should be for our patients. When general practice and pharmacy work together, patients benefit – and so does the system. I have developed strong working relationships with my community pharmacy colleagues and we have invested in gaining understanding of how our organisations operate so that they now complement each other. We must stop seeing community pharmacy as our competitors and embrace joint working for the benefit of all’.

The PMA join the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing, Community Pharmacy England and Primary Care Pharmacy Association as partners for this event.

Partnership opportunities allow you to influence the direction of primary care and position your organisation as a trusted partner in transformation.

Pulse Writing Competition: The search for our next GP blogger

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

Pulse has launched its annual writing competition to find a new blogger to entertain our readers of GPs.

The Pulse Writing Competition looks to find new GP writers to entertain (or exasperate) readers.

The team are asking our community of GPs to write a blog on one of the following themes:

  • ‘The lies I tell my patients’
  • ‘The case that still gives me nightmares’
  • ‘Why I’m still in the job’

Entries will be judged by our team, with the best blogs being published on Pulse; as well as the opportunity to become one of our regular writers – joining the likes of Copperfield, Dr Margaret Ikpoh, Dr Katie Musgrave, Dr David Turner, Dr Burnt Out and Dr Paul O’Reilly.

GPs of all career stages are welcome to enter the Pulse Writing Competition.

Pulse provides an indispensable and comprehensive range of trusted content that meets the needs of all GPs, through its political and financial news, cutting-edge investigations, clinical updates or practical business advice.

Cogora’s 2026 Events programme: Educating and connecting HCPs

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

With 2026 in full swing, we are delighted to confirm the full schedule of events across Cogora’s media brands. Offering education, CPD, networking and the chance to showcase new innovations from our exhibitors, these events have been a must for primary and secondary care professionals for over 20 years.

Over 19,000 HCPs are expected to attend through the course of the year, either through face-to-face multi-stream exhibitions or from the comfort of their own home by attending our market-leading virtual events and webinars. Whether its GPs, nurses, pharmacists, practice managers or the hospital MDT you are looking to engage with, our portfolio has something to meet your needs.

New additions to the calendar include Pulse’s inaugural Welsh event, with Pulse Cardiff taking place on the 2nd July and two new regional events for Management in Practice; Bristol and Sheffield. The Community Pharmacy and General Practice event, in partnership with the National Pharmacy Association, is a unique event focussing on collaboration between primary care disciplines.

Upcoming Cogora Events in Q1:

Looking ahead:

Pulse Virtual events will take place each month on a range of clinical areas, with in-person events in London, Leeds, Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Belfast, Glasgow and Cardiff.

For nurses, the virtual events will cover chronic conditions, respiratory, women’s health and public health, with in-person events in London and Liverpool.

Management in Practice Events will be taking place in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol and Sheffield and with virtual events focussing on hot topics from workforce, finance, hr and technology.

Our Hospital Pharmacy Europe and Hospital Healthcare Europe will cover specialist topics for secondary care on respiratory and cardiovascular care as well as biosimilars and IV medications.

For more information and to discuss sponsorship options at our Cogora Events, please contact your account manager or email [email protected].

Pulse in Focus Podcast: How significant is the GP contract negotiations overhaul? 

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

Our latest episode of Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs is now live, covering the GP contract negotiations and whether GPs should lower elderly antibiotic prescribing threshold.

In our latest episcode, Pulse editor Sofia Lind and senior journalist Maya Dhillon reflect on the recent breakdown in the relationship between the BMA and the Government following months of growing animosity between the two.

Following Pulse’s exclusive reporting on the BMA losing its exclusive negotiating position for the 2026/27 GP contract, the pair look at how we got to this point, and what the new stakeholder consultation model could mean for the profession.

Sofia is then joined by GP and Pulse clinical adviser Dr Keith Hopcroft to discuss whether GPs should really have a lower threshold for prescribing antibiotics in older people. This comes following the publication of England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty’s annual report – this year into infectious diseases.

And to round things off, Maya and Sofia check in with general practice in Northern Ireland following their visit to Pulse LIVE Belfast last month – with clips featuring RCGP NI chair Dr Ursula Mason; and the GMC’s chair and chief executive Dame Carrie McEwen and Charlie Massey.

Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs is hosted on Buzzsprout but you can find it wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to the full episcode here.

Pulse provides an indispensable and comprehensive range of trusted content that meets the needs of all GPs, through its political and financial news, cutting-edge investigations, clinical updates or practical business advice. Last month, the podcast explored the argument for increasing deprived-area GP funding; and the opportunities and pitfalls associated with plans for menopause to be added to the NHS Health Check.

Meet the winners of the General Practice Awards 2025

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

On Friday 5 December, the General Practice Awards 2025 were held at the Novotel London West, hosted by comedian Suzi Ruffell. 

The General Practice Awards 2025 welcomed over 670 guests from across primary care and the community, as well as healthcare industry representatives, for a fantastic night celebrating the very best in patient care and innovation. The event highlighted the commitment, dedication, and passion of teams and individuals working across the UK. 

Director of Content and Editorial at Cogora, Gemma Collins, gave the opening presentation: 

‘I know that all of you here tonight are passionate about the NHS and ensuring that it evolves for the better.    

You’re working against a backdrop of major changes happening in healthcare particularly with the current drive towards a neighbourhood health service next year, which may be causing some trepidations as to what 2026 will bring.   

One area of the 10-year-NHS plan to move analogue to digital certainly got into full swing on October 1st. Practices are now required to ensure patients can submit online requests from 8am until 6.30pm every day. There are understandable concerns to this, around patient safety and the increased demand on staff to deliver this.   

But of course, like always you’re still committed to this change, with improving patient care always at the forefront of everything that you do’. 

Without further ado, here are the General Practice Awards 2025 winners: 

Practice Manager of the Year – WINNER: Caitlin Clarke, Business Manager, Castle Partnership & Managing Partner, Fleggburgh Surgery 

Sponsored by General Practice Solutions 

Caitlin Clarke is an exceptional Business Manager whose vision, leadership, and compassion have helped shape the future of primary care across Central Norwich. She leads with both heart and strategy – championing innovation, inclusion, and collaboration at every level. Caitlin is not only transforming how care is delivered but also how people feel within the system. 

General Practitioner of the Year – WINNER: Dr. Ishi Bains, Tower Hamlets GP care group   

Sponsored by Exeltis 

Dr. Bains has made exceptional contributions to patient care and healthcare system transformation. As a leader in women’s health, she has improved access, reduced waiting times, and enhanced continuity of care through the creation of an integrated women’s health hub in Tower Hamlets, streamlining pathways and delivering timely, holistic care for women. 

Telecoms Provider of the Year – WINNER: Think Healthcare 

Think Healthcare’s entry focused on building close relationships with the practices they work with to find the best bespoke solution which would integrate into existing workflows, saving both patients and staff time. 

Clinical Improvement Award: Mental Health – WINNER: Leigh PCN Mental Wellbeing Support 

Leigh PCN partnered with local charity Compassion in Action to pilot a new pathway supporting patients with mental health difficulties. Having started in Leigh, the project has since expanded to cover the whole of the Wigan Borough with Leigh PCN continuing to provide GP input.   

Clinical Improvement Award: Long Term Conditions – WINNER: A Cardio-Renal-Metabolic Quality Improvement Programme, Widnes 

A cardio-renal-metabolic programme in Widnes puts the ‘patient voice’ at the heart of service redesign, bringing care closer to home. Widnes Primary Care Network (PCN) used real world data to address the needs of their patients with real-world data to address the needs of patients with complex comorbidities and to complex comorbidities and harness the MDT in response to patient feedback.     

Clinical Improvement Award: Public Health & Prevention – WINNER: Sefton Mobile Cervical Screening Partnership 

South Sefton PCN and Southport & Formby PCN teamed up with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership and NHS England North West to reach women overdue for smear tests, working tirelessly to increase screening uptake and make care more accessible by taking screenings into community settings. 

Digital Innovation Award – WINNER: Modality Partnership

Sponsored by X-on Health

Modality Partnership transformed their consultations, harnessing AI to transcribe and structure clinical conversations. This has freed up clinical time and reduced the burden on staff as well as improving the quality of documentation and speeding up referrals.   

Digital Solutions Provider of the Year – WINNER: Healthtech-1 

Healthtech-1 have streamlined the GP registration process, supporting proactive healthcare, signposting patients to referral services immediately, rather than reactively post appointment. Based in a GP practice, they’re already working hard on the next set of automations, designed around their experience of working at the front door of the NHS.   

Receptionist/Reception Team of the Year – WINNER: Maxine Paget, The Lodge Health Partnership 

Sponsored by General Practice Solutions

Maxine has shown outstanding leadership and calm under pressure, driving improvements across the Surgery—from empowering the reception team and reducing DNA rates to enhancing the patient journey through total triage. Her exceptional communication skills and dedication mean she consistently goes the extra mile, earning frequent praise from both colleagues and patients.    

PCN of the Year – WINNER: Kentish Town South PCN, London 

Sponsored by medi2data  

Kentish Town South PCN uses a data-driven approach to improve outcomes and tackle health inequalities. Projects include the Complete Care Communities Programme and an in-house arts and health charity. The PCN shares its learnings with both local authorities and guests from further afield including Singapore, Brazil and Egypt.      

Nurse/Nursing Team of the Year Award – WINNER: Dr Jennifer Loke, Park View Surgery East Riding of Yorkshire 

Jennifer has made exceptional contributions to patient care and general practice nursing excellence. As a Queen’s Nurse and champion of health equity, she transformed her practice through innovative initiatives including a Health/Well-being Patient Participation Group and Joint-Consultations.    

Pharmacist/Pharmacy Team of the Year – WINNER: South Sefton PCN Medicines Management Team 

The Medicines Management Hub is making a real difference in primary care by easing workloads and improving patient access to treatment. The Hub provides a supportive environment for mentoring and developing future pharmacy professionals, including trainee pharmacists and undergraduate students.   

Pharmacy Solutions Provider – WINNER: Virtual Pharmacist 

In February 2025, Virtual Pharmacist launched clinical hub operations for a Primary Care Network as part of a groundbreaking NHS pilot, bringing at-scale, remote pharmacist support to life. Their dedicated approach, fully integrated into each practice’s workflow, led to a dramatic increase in clinical tasks, medication reviews, and letters processed in just three months   

Extended Practice Team Member of the Year – WINNER: Carrieann Kirkup Carlisle Rural PCN 

Carrieann is committed to tackling health inequalities for patients with persistent pain. Many rely long-term opioids, often with limited alternatives, while long waits for secondary care worsen access. Carrieann is determined to make a meaningful impact in primary care. 

Legal Services Provider – WINNER: MDDUS 

MDDUS, the UK’s fastest-growing medical defence organisation over the past decade, represents around 65,000 members and handled 7,274 medical cases in 2023. Its 40-strong legal team—comprising lawyers, solicitors, and paralegals—supports healthcare professionals in clinical negligence claims, inquests, and GMC regulatory matters, with in-house medical advisers providing expert clinical insight and member support throughout each case.   

Workforce Wellbeing Award – WINNER: Compass House Medical Centres 

The Care Co-ordination Team has implemented a whiteboard system that empowers staff to assign daily roles themselves, fostering autonomy, collaboration, and flexibility. They also track positive patient interactions to celebrate the good in each day and have redesigned the phone rota to reduce fatigue while giving staff more influence over task planning.   

Sustainability In Practice Award – WINNER: Kineton and Tysoe Surgery South Warwickshire 

Kineton and Tysoe Surgery is a rural dispensing practice that has made sustainability central to its operations. By adopting digital solutions and redesigning access models, they reduce waste, minimize unnecessary travel, and enhance long-term care for a population with diverse access needs.   

Future Leader In General Practice – WINNER: Dr Zoyah Hussain Health Inequalities Champion GP 

Zoyah has led on some brilliant community and outreach work with families and children who often miss out on public health interventions. As well as doing a fantastic job of engaging these patients and ensuring our service is able to respond to their needs, Zoyah’s work has led to measurable improvements in vaccination rates in our population. 

Recruitment or Staffing Agency of the Year – WINNER: NASGP 

The NASGP is the only national membership organisation championing sessional and portfolio GPs and clinicians, all united by their NHS social heart. They engaged 96 main and branch GP practices and 83 local sessional GPs, delivering an impressive average of 288 GP sessions per month.    

Advancing Health Equity Award – WINNER: Little Lungs – Shaping Healthier Futures 

Little Lungs – Shaping Healthier Futures is a pioneering, pharmacist-led initiative that has transformed asthma care for children and young people in some of England’s most deprived communities. Working closely with families, GPs, and Birmingham Children’s Hospital, it proactively identifies and supports high-risk children who often face barriers to specialist respiratory care.   

AI-Powered Solutions Provider – WINNER: Heidi Health 

Heidi Health the UK’s largest GP, partnerships with over 50 sites and 360 GPs. In 2024 they launched the biggest clinical deployment of ambient AI. The results speak for themselves – massive cuts in documentation time, huge boosts in work-life balance, and stronger patient connections than ever before 

General Practice Team of the Year – WINNER: Modality East Surrey Medical Practice Team 

Sponsored by General Practice Solutions 

Modality East Surrey has achieved what many thought unachievable in today’s NHS – delivering timely, equitable access for all. Born from the merger of three independent surgeries, the team now serves over 38,000 patients with resilience, innovation, and a truly patient-centred approach.   

We also had Highly Commended accolades for the following awards: 

Extended Practice Team Member of the Year – HIGHLY COMMENDED: Lyndsay Steel, Lead General Practice Pharmacist, NHS Orkney 

Clinical Improvement Award: Long Term Conditions – HIGHLY COMMENDED: Dr Sian-Lee Ewan, Reimaging Primary Care Delivery for Diabetes 

Practice Manager of the Year – HIGHLY COMMENDED: Nicola Rice, Senior Practice Lead NPC Ponteland and Scott Ridley, Harefield Practice 

Sustainability in Practice Award – HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Elms Medical Practice  

Receptionist/Reception Team of the Year – HIGHLY COMMENDED: Central Medical Centre Reception Team 

Congratulations to all our winners, as well as those shortlisted.

Coverage from the General Practice Awards 2025 continues to be published across our media brands, Pulse, Pulse PCN, Nursing in Practice, The Pharmacist, Management in Practice and Healthcare Leader.

The awards will be back in 2026 with new categories, a new host, and lots of opportunities for you and your team to shine!

Meet the experts shaping the Community Pharmacy and GP Conference

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

As we shape the programme for our Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference, delivered in partnership with the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), we are delighted to introduce our Programme Advisory Committee.

Made up of respected leaders, innovators and frontline clinicians, the committee will guide a high-quality, relevant and implementable agenda that demonstrates how collaboration between community pharmacy and general practice can be strengthened.

Committee members have been purposefully drawn from organisations central to primary care transformation, including the NPA, Community Pharmacy England, the Primary Care Pharmacy Association, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the PMA, The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing, the BMA, Local Pharmaceutical and Medical Committees, ICBs and PCNs.

Their collective experience will ensure the conference focuses on the priorities that matter most to our audience, their teams, and the populations they serve.

Above all, they bring practical insight into how primary care sectors can work together as a seamless neighbourhood health service, where professional, technical and service boundaries are invisible to patients.

Programme Advisory Committee

  • Dr Wasim Baqir – Head of Pharmacy Integration, Primary Care, Vaccinations and Screening, NHS England
  • Danny Bartlett – Clinical Lead, Kent, Surrey & Sussex Primary Care School
  • Sukhi Basra – Vice Chair, National Pharmacy Association
  • Alastair Buxton – Director of NHS Services, Community Pharmacy England
  • Tracy Dell – Locum Practice Manager and Primary Care Trainer, PMA
  • Amandeep Doll – Director for England, Royal Pharmaceutical Society
  • Steve Gilbert OBE – Patient with Lived Experience of Serious Mental Illness & Racial Equalities Campaigner
  • Nick Kaye – Immediate Past Chair, National Pharmacy Association
  • Steph Lawrence MBE – Chief Executive, The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing
  • Dr Bernie Marden – Chief Medical Officer, Somerset ICB
  • Joanne McMullen – Board Member, National Pharmacy Association – Northern Ireland
  • Dr Nick Merrifield – GP & Deputy Clinical Director, Southwest London Integrated Care System
  • Dr Julius Parker – Deputy Chair of GPC England, British Medical Association
  • Conor Price – Chief Executive, Community Pharmacy London
  • Sehar Shahid – Superintendent Pharmacist, Independent Prescriber, NPA Board Director (Scotland), Obesity Specialist Pharmacist
  • Dr Graham Stretch – President, Primary Care Pharmacy Association
  • David Thomas – Board Member, National Pharmacy Association – Wales
  • Shannon Nickson – Lead Pharmacist Primary Care Pathways (Midlands and East of England), Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE)

This national event will take place in Birmingham on 21 – 22 June 2026 and will welcome community pharmacists, GPs, practice managers, GP and PCN pharmacists, PCN and ICB leaders, nurses and more, for two days of real-world learning, implementable ideas, and meaningful relationship building. It will be promoted to audiences via Pulse, Pulse PCN, The Pharmacist, Nursing in Practice, Management in Practice and Healthcare Leader.

With unrivalled access to 100,000 HCPs working in general practice and primary care and 6,000 community pharmacies, the NPA and Cogora are two trusted organisations ideally placed to deliver an event designed to break silos, boost collaboration, and drive real change.

Partnership opportunities across the conference allow you to influence the direction of primary care and position your organisation as a trusted partner in transformation. Contact us today to discuss our full range of sponsorship opportunities.

Pulse in Focus Podcast: Why deprived-area GPs need more funding

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

The latest episode of Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs explores the argument for increasing deprived-area GP funding; and the opportunities and pitfalls associated with plans for menopause to be added to the NHS Health Check.

Editor-in-chief Jaimie Kaffash and features assistant Maya Dhillon discuss how GP practices with deprived patient populations should be supported, in light of the Government’s announcement of a review into the Carr-Hill funding formula.

Jaimie draws on Pulse’s award-winning ‘Lost Practices‘ investigation which showed that, on average, the GP practices that close for good are in areas with areas of higher deprivation.

The two also reflect on GP and founding member of the Scottish Deep End Project Professor Stewart Mercer’s speech at Pulse LIVE Glasgow, where he addressed delegates about how health inequalities manifest in GP consultations, and what can be done to help both patients and staff in deprived areas.

Pulse clinical adviser Dr Keith Hopcroft is joined by GP and clinical associate professor in women’s health and primary care at the University of Birmingham Dr Sarah Hillman, to mull over the addition of menopause questions to NHS Health Checks.

The pair consider consider what questions should be asked and whether it will it encourage more women to take up the checks. But also whether it is necessary at all, or just a PR move.

This podcast is brought to you by X-on Health. Introducing Surgery Intellect, powered by TORTUS—the AI scribe built for UK general practice. It works seamlessly in your face-to-face and telephone consultations, capturing every detail safely and accurately, without clunky shortcuts. You can now try it free for three months.

Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs is hosted on Buzzsprout but is available wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to the full episcode here.

Pulse provides an indispensable and comprehensive range of trusted content that meets the needs of all GPs, through its political and financial news, cutting-edge investigations, clinical updates or practical business advice. Last month, a special podcast episcode was released to mark white paper, Access All Areas, exploring access in general practice.

Portfolio Careers launches on the Pulse Careers hub

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

Earlier this year, MDDUS partnered with Pulse Careers to sponsor Portfolio Careers, a flagship project within the newly launched Pulse Careers Hub. The hub is designed to support GP trainees, newly qualified GPs, and doctors exploring new professional pathways.

Pulse Careers was created as a go-to destination for doctors at pivotal career moments – whether in training, newly qualified, or considering a change in direction. Its development was informed by insights from the Cogora Workforce White Paper, which highlighted the scale of GP underemployment and the challenges faced by younger GPs in securing full employment.

The Portfolio Careers project showcased 16 diverse GP roles, from football doctor and sports physician to media doctor and expedition doctor. Each profile featured first-hand accounts from doctors working in these fields.

Drawing on MDDUS’s expertise in professional indemnity, the project also explored the medico-legal considerations associated with pursuing alternative or portfolio career paths. Each role was accompanied by tailored indemnity and risk-management advice from MDDUS, offering readers practical and trusted guidance.

To maximise reach and engagement, we also created a tongue-in-cheek personality quiz to help users discover their ‘perfect’ role while encouraging them to explore all 16 career options.

This case study examines the full Portfolio Careers launch and promotion, along with the strong engagement it generated, delivering outstanding visibility and thought-leadership impact for our client.

The success of Portfolio Careers demonstrates the value of connecting expert sponsors like MDDUS with a highly engaged, career-focused GP audience.

Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference, in partnership with the National Pharmacy Association

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

In partnership with the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), Cogora have launched a new event, Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference, bringing together 1,000+ professionals from across community pharmacy, general practice and wider primary care – redefining neighbourhood health.

Taking place 21-22 June 2026, at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham, this national event will welcome community pharmacists, GPs, practice managers, GP and PCN pharmacists, PCN and ICB leaders, Nurses and more, for two days of real-world learning, implementable ideas, and meaningful relationship building.

Stronger collaboration between community pharmacy and general practice is vital to the success of the NHS and the planned creation of a neighbourhood health service. When these professions work together, they combine unique clinical and medicine knowledge to increase access, improve patient care, open new business and service opportunities, and release capacity to deliver more proactive, preventative care.

Both sectors are under unprecedented pressure, with ongoing financial strain and rising patient demand, and neither can afford to face these challenges alone. This new, silo-busting event provides a platform for HCPs to share ideas and best practice, build stronger relationships and learn how they can capitalise on the inevitable shift of care out of hospitals and into the community.

The event will be promoted to our audience of primary care professionals via Pulse, Pulse PCN, The Pharmacist, Nursing in Practice, Management in Practice and Healthcare Leader.

With unrivalled access to 100,000 HCPs working in general practice and primary care and 6,000 community pharmacies, the NPA and Cogora are two trusted organisations ideally placed to deliver an event designed to break silos, boost collaboration, and drive real change.

Unlike traditional trade shows, the event will prioritise integration and meaningful relationships between pharmacy and general practice in pursuit of delivering the NHS 10-year health plan and neighbourhood healthcare. The agenda will be highly practical, showcasing case studies that demonstrate how policy can be translated into NHS practice – and how others can replicate that success.

Partnership opportunities across the Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference allow you to influence the direction of primary care and position your organisation as a trusted partner in transformation.

Connect with key decision-makers, showcase your innovations, and support the NHS 10-year health plan while gaining critical insight to understand, influence, and position your organisation at the heart of meaningful primary care change.

Contact us today to discuss our full range of sponsorship opportunities.

Pulse and Management in Practice in the Press: General practice access

Posted on by Bianca Pettifor

The Pulse and Management in Practice surveys on changes to general practice access has been featured across the national media, including the Mail, the Telegraph and the Independent.

The survey of more than 400 practices in England revealed that GPs and practice managers had safety concerns around patients reporting urgent and life-threatening conditions through online consultation forms, which could potentially be missed. These included symptoms such as breathing difficulties, severe vomiting, acute abdominal and chest pain, and rectal bleeding, as well as feverish children.

It also revealed that practices are spending time equivalent to 200,000 appointments per week on implementing the changes, which contractually obliges them to ensure patients can submit online consultations throughout routine working hours.

Pulse and Management in Practice spoke to several GPs and practice managers about their experience, and many of their quotes were used in the national media coverage.

The story around safety concerns was featured in the Telegraph, the Mail, the Independent, MSN and Yahoo. Pulse reporter Harry Hetherington was also interviewed for bulletins through Radio News Hub, which provides the news for over 400 radio stations across the UK and internationally, with a listenership of 2.3 million per week.

The follow-up story on the number of appointments lost due to the changes was featured in the Daily Mail.

This followed Cogora’s white paper on access, which was launched at a Labour Party conference fringe in September, and is set to inform major GP contract negotiations.  

Since the start of 2024, Pulse has been cited more than 80 times in the national press, with its editorial team frequently appearing on national radio to discuss stories they have broken.

Pulse provides an indispensable and comprehensive range of trusted content that meets the needs of all GPs, through its political and financial news, cutting-edge investigations, clinical updates or practical business advice.

Management in Practice offers its audience of practice managers timely and insightful updates on political and financial matters affecting general practice, along with engaging expert opinions and case studies from industry leaders, to assist them in managing their practices effectively.