A group of patients who criticised their local GP surgery on Facebook have been told to consider finding a new doctor in an attempt to stifle negative feedback online. Staff at the Trent Meadows Medical Practice near Burton, Staffordshire, had been monitoring social media comments and culprits have since been sent ‘threatening’ letters.
Sylvia Blackshaw, 35, had written that on three occasions she waited for 90 minutes for an appointment for her newborn baby. But she was later accused of abusive behaviour by the surgery who branded it ‘inappropriate patient behaviour’ and warned her that she should consider finding an ‘alternative practice’.
Mrs Blackshaw had said ‘OMG. Demand a recount!’ in a comment on a glowing report for the surgery from health watchdog the Care Quality Commission on her local paper’s Facebook page.
A fortnight later a letter sent to her home from the surgery said: ‘We have a zero tolerance for inappropriate patient behaviour which is either face to face, over the telephone or on social media networks and do not accept this from our patients.’
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Row: Jenny Wheeldon, left, and Sylvia Blackshaw, right with son Jake, have been told to consider finding a new GP after their surgery saw their criticism online. Warning: This letter below from GP partner Judith Crosse has also been sent to other critics
Filed under: GP's, NHS, Uncategorized, criticised on line, GP's, NHS
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