Social Media Patient Policy

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There are many social media platforms that are widely used by both staff and patients; these include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. At Mile Oak Medical Centre we have a Facebook, and Google business page, which provide a range of useful information for our patient population.

Mile Oak Medical Centre has a duty to maintain patient confidentiality and to safeguard vulnerable patients. You can help us achieve this by adhering to the code of conduct outlined in this policy.

Patients at Mile Oak Medical Centre are expected to adhere to the following code of conduct at all times:

1. The practice requires all users of portable devices to use them in a courteous and considerate manner, respecting their fellow patients. Portable devices are not to be used during consultations.
2. Patients are not permitted to disclose any patient-identifiable information about other patients, unless they have the express consent of that patient.
3. Patients must not post any material that is inaccurate, fraudulent, harassing, embarrassing, obscene, defamatory or unlawful. Any such posts on the practice Facebook page or Google business page will be deleted by the Practice Manager and the post reported.
4. Patients are not permitted to take photographs in the waiting room or areas where other patients are present, nor are photographs of staff permitted.
5. Patients must not post comments on social media that identify staff who work at the practice.
6. Patients are to use the NHS website to leave a review should they wish to leave a review about Mile Oak Medical Centre. This will enable the Practice to respond appropriately.
7. Defamatory comments about our team are not to be shared on any social media platform. Legal advice will be sought, and the appropriate action taken against any patient who posts defamatory comments.

Mile Oak Medical Centre takes defamatory comments about the staff or surgery very seriously and will take action against any patient(s) found to be defaming the staff or surgery.  We will contact you and ask you to remove the comment and failure to do so or repeated incidents could result in your removal from the surgery.

Patient complaints on social media

We have a separate complaints policy which patients are to use, should they wish to make a complaint.

We will only respond to complaints made to the practice in accordance with the practice policy. If a complaint or defamatory comment is made on the practice Facebook page, we reserve the right to moderate and/or delete comments and may also ban the person from the page.

Google business page reviewers will be advised to contact the practice, should they wish to discuss their complaint further.