RCP Medicine Podcast

In this episode of the RCP Medicine Podcast, respiratory consultant and clinical lead for environmental sustainability Dr Thom Daniels joins host Dr David Charles to explore why air quality should be treated as a core clinical issue rather than a distant environmental concern. Drawing on landmark coroner’s cases, including the deaths of Ella Adoo Kissi Debrah and Awaab Ishak, they examine how outdoor and indoor pollution contribute to asthma, COPD, cardiovascular disease, stroke, dementia and health inequalities across the life course. The discussion covers practical ways to ask about air quality in consultations, from unexplained coughs to secondary prevention clinics, and sets out simple, evidence informed advice clinicians can offer to patients. They also consider policy and global perspectives, racial and social justice dimensions, and how clinicians can support patients who feel fatalistic about the environment.
Resources 
https://www.rcp.ac.uk/policy-and-campaigns/policy-documents/a-breath-of-fresh-air-responding-to-the-health-challenges-of-modern-air-pollution/ 
https://www.rcp.ac.uk/news-and-media/news-and-opinion/air-pollution-linked-to-30-000-uk-deaths-in-2025-and-costs-the-economy-and-nhs-billions-warns-royal-college-of-physicians/
https://www.rcp.ac.uk/media/5r2kmmi4/rcp-full-report-a-breath-of-fresh-air-responding-to-the-health-challenges-of-modern-air-pollution.pdf
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Ep 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas 
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In this powerful and timely episode, Dr Ahmed Seedat — respiratory and general internal medicine consultant, global health specialist, and former policy fellow — joins Dr Krishna Misra, an experienced GP in inclusion health, for an in‑depth exploration of migrant and refugee health. Together with host Dr Rohan Mehra, they unpack the realities facing displaced populations today: from the impact of geopolitical instability and the climate emergency, to the language and stigma shaping public attitudes, to the structural barriers embedded within UK health systems.
Through expert insight and frontline experience, the conversation delves into the drivers of forced migration, the consequences of restricted safe routes, the challenges created by the UK asylum backlog, and the complex interplay between trauma, mental health, and chronic disease. Importantly, the episode also highlights a successful collaborative model between primary and secondary care in South East London — demonstrating the power of relationships, community, and advocacy to improve outcomes for some of the most marginalised people in society.
Listeners will leave with a richer understanding of migrant health, actionable advice for clinicians, and a hopeful reminder that community truly is a superpower.

Resources
Doctors of the World:
Advice line - Doctors of the World
urgent_care_guidelines.pdf
 Home 2026 | Refugee Week
BMA:
Refugee and asylum seeker health resource updated 2025
BMJ:
Knights F, Munir S, Ahmed H, Hargreaves S. Initial health assessments for newly arrived migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers BMJ 2022
Initial health assessments for newly arrived migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers | The BMJ
Other
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

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Ep 50 onward - Bensound.com  
Ep 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas 
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In this episode of the RCP Medicine Podcast, Dr Aula Abbara, consultant in infectious diseases and internal medicine at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and an infectious diseases and malaria advisor to MSF Amsterdam, joins Dr Bryony Alderman, palliative medicine consultant and RCP Sustainability Education Fellow. Together, they explore how climate change is reshaping global health, with a particular focus on infectious diseases, health inequalities, forced displacement, and the increasingly complex connections between environment, conflict, and disease transmission.
Resources
MSF UK | Médecins Sans Frontières
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Ep 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas 
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In this episode of the RCP Medicine Podcast, Professor Jeremy Levy, consultant nephrologist in London, joins Dr Alex Crowe, consultant physician in Liverpool, for an insightful and practical conversation about chronic kidney disease (CKD). Together, they explore why CKD is so common, and often silent. How to distinguish acute from chronic kidney problems, and which investigations matter most.
The discussion also highlights the growing importance of cardiorenal metabolic medicine, offering clinicians a clear approach to assessing risk, optimising treatment, and supporting long‑term health. From EGFR trends to SGLT2 inhibitors, from lifestyle change to coding accuracy, this episode provides an essential, up‑to‑date guide for managing CKD in everyday practice.
Resources 
For kidney sake podcast:  Home | ForKidneysSake.com 
Excellent resources on CKD here from NHS NW London:  Chronic kidney disease
NICE guidelines: Overview | Chronic kidney disease: assessment and management | Guidance | NICE 
Hypertension in CKD from UK kidney association  FINAL UKKA NICE-KDIGO commentary December 2022.pdf
Exercise and Lifestyle in CKD from UK kidney association   Exercise and Lifestyle in CKD clinical practice guideline33_v4_FINAL_0.pdf 
SGLT2i in CKD  from UK kidney association  Sodium Glucose Co transporter 2 - UK Kidney Association.
KDIGO (international) guidelines on CKD management   CKD Evaluation and Management – KDIGO
KIDGO prognosis of CKD by Albuminuria Categories: KIDGO 2012 S126
American Diabetes Association guidelines including CKD   Volume 48 Issue Supplement_1 | Diabetes Care | American Diabetes Association
For Kidneys Sake
For Kidneys Sake is a clinician-led podcast from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and North West London Integrated Care Board, offering practical, evidence-based insight into chronic kidney disease and cardio-renal care. Through short, accessible conversations with experts across primary and secondary care, the series supports shared learning on CKD detection, risk management and integrated patient care. The podcast is for GPs, pharmacists, nurses and multidisciplinary teams, and is relevant for clinicians, patients and anyone interested in improving kidney health.
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Ep 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas 
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In this episode, Dr Bryony Alderman, palliative care consultant and RCP sustainability clinical education fellow, joins Dr Vasiliki Thanopoulou, rheumatology registrar and RCP clinical education fellow, for a wide‑ranging discussion demystifying modern palliative care.
Together they explore how the specialty has evolved beyond end‑of‑life support, highlighting early integration, symptom management across disease groups, and the importance of compassionate, individualised care.
The conversation dives deep into practical clinical considerations: appropriate timing of referrals, anticipatory prescribing, managing medications in renal/hepatic failure, handling chronic disease therapies at the end of life, and common misconceptions around syringe drivers. They also discuss communication challenges, including uncertainty in prognostication, hydration and nutrition decisions, and supporting families during difficult conversations.
This is an essential episode for clinicians looking to enhance confidence and skill in end‑of‑life care, while keeping person‑centred care at the heart of practice.
Resources 
https://www.spict.org.uk/
Lee C, Tran TT, Ross J Anticipatory prescribing in community end-of-life care BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care 2024;14:353-357
https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/professionals/resources/nil-mouth-medication-dose-calculators-and-guidelines
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/for-professionals/improving-care/clinical-recommendations-for-professionals/diagnosis-ongoing-management-monitoring/end-of-life-care
https://www.nacel.nhs.uk/about-nacel
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Ep 50 onward - Bensound.com  
Ep 1 - 49 'Impressive Deals' - Nicolai Heidlas 
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