Are you a GP? We know there are loads of you out there...

[RowanMumsnet]

We at MNHQ have been talking to the Royal College of GPs, and they thought it might be useful for GPs to know a bit more about Mumsnet.

As part of that, we're putting together some information for GPs about what Mumsnet is, what it's not, and how they or their patients might find it useful.

If you're a GP yourself, we'd love to know how you would you sum up Mumsnet in a sentence - or a paragraph - for a GP colleague who didn't know much about it. Has Mumsnet ever been useful for you in your professional life, and could there be other ways you think other GPs might find it useful? Are there any misconceptions about MN we could clear up?

And anything else that occurs to you!

Thanks v much

MNHQ

[Fisharefriendsnotfood]

Not a GP but my health visitor put me on to mumsnet. She said they normally recommend Netmums but that she thought I'd be better on Mumsnet

[CuttedUpPear]

I'm not a GP, but on one of my recent -miserable- threads one of the posters said that she was a GP and that she often recommended to her patients who were having relationship troubles which affected their mental health, to ask for advice on here.

[OodlesofOods]

My GP used MN as an insult.
Possibly outing myself but
' you don't get thrush on your nipples, where did you read that? Mumsnet?'
'No the NHS site, do you want to check?'
''

[OodlesofOods]

Actually she wasn't my GP she was a locum. Mine is lovely and not impressed with the locum and she's the boss so her word counts

[IHeartKingThistle]

My GP recommended MN for support when my baby DS was suffering with very bad eczema. I was already here!

She was an awesome GP!

[namechangeGP]

I just accidentally deleted a whole load of stuff I had written. I am a GP and think MN is very useful as a resource and has been useful for me learning about people's attitudes to healthcare.

I would never post under my normal username and out myself as a GP because I don't want personal and professional boundaries blurred.

Also because the GMC guidance says that you should not post as a doctor and give advice anonymously. I wonder if others are comfortable with giving their names? I am not and so would never say that I was a GP while giving advice.

The guidance states:

If you identify yourself as a doctor in publicly
accessible social media, you should also identify
yourself by name. Any material written by
authors who represent themselves as doctors is
likely to be taken on trust and may reasonably
be taken to represent the views of the profession
more widely.‡

www.gmc-uk.org/Doctors__use_of_social_media.pdf_51448306.pdf

[namechangeGP]

I have read your OP again and I'm not sure I have answered the question.

To be honest, I don't know if I would feel comfortable recommending it to a patient. I love it and think there are good resources and support available but I think of it as being part of my personal life and I would be uncomfortable blurring that boundary.

The bereavement section I may suggest but even that is very personal.

Sorry MNHQ, not sure that was what you wanted to hear!

[Fruli]

Not a GP, but work in a medical field. I have recommended MN to parents wanting to cosleep, bf-ing support, mc/bereavement support, a community...depends on the person though and I take care to mention it is just one source of information and isn't medical advice (and should not replace it).

[lyndie]

I'm a GP!!!!!!

Mumsnet is a fabulous resource for many reasons. It is a an amazing community of knowledgeable women in many fields who can support, give advice or just listen to you having a moan! I think it's particularly helpful for breastfeeding advice, mental health support and the quite incredible relationships section.

I think it's made me a better GP. Even as a qualified doctor I learn things from Mumsnet. Sometimes I read about people's experiences in the health service and it reminds me that every patients needs a chance to talk and be listened to, and I hope that they go home to their families and say they felt well cared for.

I could write you an essay but I won't clog up the thread!

[phantomnamechanger]

The problem with this thread though, just like all the advice posted on here from people saying that they are GPs/nurses etc, is that you don't know who is posting what and whether they are genuine. Or whether they are indeed a GP but fall into the 'one you would never ask to see because they are arrogant and/or ill informed' category, rather than one who is absolutely fabulous all round.

I would have thought GPs advocating mumsnet as a source of therapy etc would be on shaky ground just like those advising religious intervention/prayer etc have been. My GP was not even allowed to tell me whether cloth or disposable nappies were better when DD had hideous sore nappy rash/fungal infection, because it was only their opinion/preference and not medical advice!

[OpalMoonstone]

Not a GP but my health visitor put me on to mumsnet. She said they normally recommend Netmums but that she thought I'd be better on Mumsnet grin Now that's a compliment!

[DolomitesDonkey]

Oooh nasty. "As recommended by the NHS", "as recommended by Gordon Brown".

Urgh. Leaves a nasty taste in my mouth.

Self-publicize all you like mn - you're good for some things, but I'd hate to see you become state mandate. It's only a message board and it ain't 'alf filled with a lot of shoite.

[AnneEyhtMeyer]

Is this a way to compete with Netmums and get OBEs?

Netmums is recommended by HCP because they employ HCP on the site.

Why would HCP recommend MN when they know this? Would there be a financial incentive for the NHS / GP / HV to promote MN?

Not a HCP, by the way.

[RowanMumsnet]

No, no financial incentive or any other sort of incentive - it's just because we think MN is useful for peer-to-peer support, and if GPs think it's useful too, we'd be very happy for them to recommend us. (Of course if they don't think we're useful they're very free not to recommend us!)

We're also not trying to create any kind of expectation that people will receive expert medical advice from qualified HCPs among other MNers; as many of you have said, we can't vouch for anyone on here, and we'd always recommend that posters seek RL HCP advice if they're worried about a medical problem. This is more about the back-up, support and peer-to-peer advice that we think MNers are good at providing.

Thanks v much for all your contributions so far

[shouldnthavesaid]

Think my GP would bite their head off if anyone suggested she post on any sort of forum or suggest it to a patient - she insists the internet/social networking is the devil's work!! That said there's probably something in HCPs recommending forums to new parents etc.

[SeriousWispaHabit]

I'm a GP and I just tend not to comment on the 'medical' threads. Tbh, I lurk most of the time and post occasionally.

I have recommended MN for BF support (with the caveat that you are reading about others' experiences, not getting official advice) and relationship support. I tend to recommend it more for people who need support and are not getting it in real life, for example if someone is extended BFing and does not know anyone in real life who has done this I might suggest having a read.

I have learnt a lot about how what we do as GPs can be perceived by patients by reading a lot of threads moaning about GPs!

[Mrsmorton]

Is there no way that GPs or other HCPs could be "accredited" by MN in one of their names and then if they choose to give advice, they're not breaching professional guidelines but they can NC back to say whatever they want. Just an idea.

[gasman]

Not a GP but an anaesthetist.

I love mumsnet personally (educated debate with lots of other articulate women - what's not to like)

Professionally I find it interesting to explore lay health concerns. I have suggested colleagues look on here esp. Childbirth BUT since the GMC guidance on social media I post less on medical issues. I'm not prepared to identify myself to post. I used to provide advice on procedural things eg. What to expect during a c- section and why various things are done.

I also wouldn't recommend to patients/parents although I do sometimes professionally encounter people I am sure are mumsnetters....

[lizzypuffs]

Not a gp but a public health specialist and I think that mumsnet is an excellent resource for extra support and to share real life experiences.

[scottishmummy]

I think this is ill conceived,to suggest professionals are vetted/screened on mn
If you want a GP or HCP to present views or contribute,I'd suggest a resident GP/HCP
As opposed to individual posters,also the professional guidelines are strict about use of social media in professional capacity

[scottishmummy]

Post in reply to mrsmorton

[Mrsmorton]

It works well on other forums and it was just a suggestion . A resident GP/HCP would have their work cut out dispelling all the myths on here!