The new episode of Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs is now live and available on all podcast platforms.

In this month’s episode, our team unpicks the new guidance from NICE, recommending use of weight loss drug semaglutide (Wegovy) to prevent further 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 rollout might look like, who is eligible, who will be responsible for managing care including lifestyle support, and how it fits in with existing NICE guidance on treating patients with type 2 diabetes.

Professor Fuat also considers whether semaglutide has the potential to go to be used for primary prevention in future.

We round up our episode with editor Sofia Lind discussing where general practice stands following a referendum on the 2026/27 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 is in, as it has threatened collective action by 30 April (unless the Government pauses its implementation of ‘mandatory’ A&G) while the Government has said this may mean missing out on a primary negotiation role in new GMS contract discussions.

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This episode was produced by Maya Dhillon and Mollie Fraser-Andrews.