BJGP Interviews

This episode, we have a round table discussion with the editorial team of Sam Merriel, Tom Round and Nada Khan. This collection of the BJGP’s top 10 research most read and published in 2025 brings together high-profile primary care research and clinical innovation. And here are the top 10 most read papers of 2025: 10 Adoption of clinical pharmacist roles in primary care: longitudinal evidence from...

Today, we’re speaking to Dr Joy McFadzean,a GP in Swansea and Clinical Lecturer of Patient Safety based at Cardiff University. We’re here to talk about the paper she’s recently published here in the BJGP alongside her colleagues titled, ‘Critical illness in prisons: a multi-method analysis of reported healthcare safety incidents in England’. Title of paper: Critical illness in prisons: a multi-met...

Today, we’re speaking to Dr Rob Perry, who is a Gastroenterology Clinical Research Fellow based at Imperial College London. Title of paper: Evaluating the Role of Faecal Calprotectin in Older Adults Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2025.0169 There is considerable uncertainty surrounding the use of FC as a diagnostic test in older adults, with varying suggestions in guidelines and a lack...

Today, we’re speaking to Flo Martin, an honorary research associate at the University of Bristol. Title of paper: First trimester antidepressant use and miscarriage: a comprehensive analysis in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2025.0092 Antidepressant use during pregnancy is rising, with concerns from pregnant women that these medications may...

Today, we’re speaking to Claire Mann, a Research Fellow who is based at the University of Warwick, and Sarah Hillman, who is a GP and Clinical Associate Professor based at the University of Birmingham. Title of paper: Accessing Equitable Menopause Care in the Contemporary NHS – Women’s Experiences Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2024.0781 Menopause awareness has increased in recent year...

Today, we’re speaking to Dr Luisa Pettigrew, a GP and Research Fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Senior Policy Fellow at the Health Foundation. Title of paper: Counting GPs: A comparative repeat cross-sectional analysis of NHS general practitioners Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2024.0833 There have been successive Government promises to increase GP numbe...

Today, we’re speaking to Jadine Scragg, a researcher based at the University of Oxford, and Sabrina Keating about their recent paper published here in the BJGP. Title of paper: GPs’ perspectives on GLP-1RAs for obesity management: a qualitative study in England Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2025.0065 General practitioners (GPs) play a central role in managing obesity yet face signific...

Today, we’re speaking to Dr Steph Stockwell, a senior analyst based at RAND Europe. Title of paper: Evolution of the general practice receptionist role and online services: a qualitative study Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2024.0677 The introduction of online systems and services into general practice and the impact on general practice staff has been considered from a clinician perspe...

Today, we’re speaking to Dr Sophie McGrath, Consultant Medical Oncologist based at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and at Kingston Hospital in London. Title of paper: Management of menopausal symptoms following treatment for hormone receptor positive breast cancer Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2025.0264 This transcript was generated using AI and has not been reviewed for accura...

Today, we’re speaking to Euan Lawson, the Editor in Chief of the BJGP, about a number of issues around editing, the future of the journal and how you can get involved with the BJGP. Here's a link to the BJGP Research and Publishing Conference: https://bjgp.org/conference This transcript was generated using AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Please be aware it may contain errors or omission...

Today, we’re speaking to Dr Jo Burgin, a GP and a researcher based at the University of Bristol. Title of paper: Mental health consultations during the perimenopausal age range – Are GPs and patients on the same page?: A qualitative study Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2025.0069 Mood changes are a recognised symptom of perimenopause, for which Hormone Replacement Therapy is considered...

In this episode, we speak to Dr Diarmuid Quinlan, a GP and MD candidate based at the Department of General Practice at University College Cork. Title of paper: Competencies and clinical guidelines for managing acne with isotretinoin in general practice: a scoping review Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2025.0135 There is evidence of inequitable access to the most effective treatment for...

Today, we’re speaking to Professor Helen Atherton. Helen is Professor of Primary Care Research based at the University of Southampton. Title of paper: What do patients want from access to UK general practice? Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2024.0582 Widely accepted as perpetuated by the media is that patients are unhappy with access to general practice and desire faster access to...

Today, we’re speaking to Dr Sara Noden, a GP with an extended role in ADHD, and Dr Nishi Yarger, Consultant Psychiatrist in adult ADHD services. Title of paper: A guide for primary care clinicians managing ADHD medication side effects Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp25X742653 Transcript This transcript was generated using AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Please be aware it may...

Today, we’re speaking to Dr Cini Bhanu, GP and Academic Clinical Lecturer in the Primary Care and Population Health Department at University College London.  Title of paper: Antidepressants and risk of postural hypotension: a self-controlled case series study in UK primary care Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2024.0429 Antidepressants are associated with postural hypotension (PH)....

Today, we’re speaking to Dr Jamie Scuffell, GP and NIHR In Practice Fellow at King’s College London. Title of paper: Patterns in GP Appointment Systems: a cluster analysis of 3480 English practices Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2024.0556 GP practices in the UK are using a wide range of different appointment systems to meet patient demand and improve access. This cluster analysis of NH...

Today, we’re speaking to Dr Steve Bradley, GP and Senior Clinical Lecturer based within the School of Medicine and Population Health at the University of Sheffield. Title of paper: General practice chest X-ray rate is associated with earlier lung cancer diagnosis and reduced all-cause mortality: a retrospective observational study Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2024.0466 It is known th...

Today, we’re speaking to Professor Martijn Schut, Professor of Translational AI in Laboratory Medicine and Professor Henk CPM van Weert, GP and Emeritus Professor of General Practice, both based at Amsterdam University Medical Center. Title of paper: Artificial intelligence for early detection of lung cancer in GPs’ clinical notes: a retrospective observational cohort study Available at: http...

Today, we’re speaking to Dr Afrodita Marcu, a Research Fellow in Cancer Care at the University of Surrey. Title of paper: Symptom appraisal and help- seeking before a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy: a qualitative study Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2024.0208 There is a gap in current understanding about the experiences of women diagnosed with cancer during or around pregnancy inclu...

Today, we’re speaking to Dr Stephen Gibbons, Consultant Clinical Biochemist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and Dr Clare Spencer, GP Partner and Menopause Specialist at the Meanwood Group Practice in Leeds. Title of paper: Optimising testosterone therapy in patients with hypoactive sexual desire disorder Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp25X741321 Transcript This transcript was gene...

Today, we’re going to do something a bit different and take a look back at the recent BJGP Research Conference, which was held on the 21st of March 2025 in Manchester. I’m going to discuss some of the highlights and really focus on what the conference is about and how to get involved in the future. Here are some of the links I discussed in the podcast: Links https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/f...

Today, we’re speaking to Dr Louise Clarke, a GP and researcher based at the University of Nottingham. Title of paper: Barriers to diagnosing and treating vulval lichen sclerosus: a survey study Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2024.0360 Previous research has identified a significant diagnostic delay and misdiagnosis of vulval lichen sclerosus (VLS), a condition most commonly presenting t...

Today, we’re speaking to Dr Victoria Tzortziou Brown, a GP and Reader in Primary Healthcare and Health Policy at Queen Mary University of London, and Vice Chair for External Affairs at the Royal College of General Practitioners. Title of paper: Language of primary medical qualification and differential MRCGP exam attainment: an observational study Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2024.02...

Today, we’re speaking to Professor Helen Atherton, Professor of Primary Care Research at the University of Southampton. Title of paper: Supporting patients to use online services in general practice: focused ethnographic case study Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2024.0137 Use of, and access to, online services are increasing within general practice in England. Current approaches to dig...

Today, we’re speaking to Dr Sam Merriel, a GP, and NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in General Practice based at the University of Manchester. Title of paper: Factors affecting prostate cancer detection through asymptomatic PSA testing in primary care in England: Evidence from the 2018 National Cancer Diagnosis Audit Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2024.0376 Asymptomatic, informed choice...