Record numbers are signing up for GP training and in this episode Ben talks to Dipesh Gopal and Ebrahim Mulla, two GP trainees, about why they chose to become GPs. He asks them about their expectations versus the reality of the role, how (and if) they see the partnership model figuring in their careers and why they think so many GPs are leaving the profession. They consider what can be done to “solve the problems of general practice” and give a view on whether the future for general practice is a bright one

In the third in our series of podcasts on social prescribing, GP and social prescribing champion Marie Anne Essam returns to tell us three powerful real-life patient stories in which a social prescription has changed a patient’s life; a carer who got his purpose back, a man with a housing problem who turned his life around and an anxious, reluctant patient who found the support she needed. Plus: guidance on the new link workers will shortly be issued to all primary care networks and Marie Anne gives us a sneak preview of what it will contain.

The specification and guidance for the new network DES runs to over 100 pages. In the days following its publication Ben and special guest Dr Riaz Jetha digested the content of the DES and, in this episode, they talk through the key differences they identified. They look at the nature of the network agreement, the role of federations, how clinical leaders will be recruited, population size, funding and much more. You might also be interested in Ben’s latest Blog which covers similar material.