WIBU to send a complaint about this aggressive text message?

[TheNamesJames]

I have just received this from my GP (and yes, it was recieved in capital letters, I haven’t edited it):

COVID-19: FOLLOWING LATEST GUIDANCE, Edited out MEDICAL CENTRE WILL BE OPERATING A TELEPHONE CONSULTATION ONLY SERVICE. ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN ASSESSED, THE CLINICIAN WILL DECIDE IF A FACE TO FACE CONSULTATION IS NEEDED. WE ARE WORKING HARD TO PROTECT OUR PATIENTS AND STAFF. IF YOU HAVE AN APPOINTMENT BOOKED IN THE NEAR FUTURE, YOU WILL BE CONTACTED, DO NOT ATTEND THE SURGERY.THANK YOU FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.

Is that unnecessary and rude? I haven’t even seen a doctor at that surgery since eleven months ago, it’s not like I’m hounding at their door every day and a walking risk.

I get that it is important and needs to be clarified but wtf, does anyone else think it’s really rude to send spam messages to random people in that tone of manner?

I have read it several times now and I can't see anything wrong with it. It is very clear in its message. This is a good thing as there will be people receiving it who don't speak English as their first language, or who have low reading comprehension.

I don’t know why people are repeatedly pointing out that the text message would have been sent to everyone on the GPS books and not just me: I KNOW that. That’s why I called it a spam message in my OP... because they sent the same message to everyone on their list

It's definitely not 'scolding', it's been typed in capital letters to grab your attention. I bet there's one very similar on the health centre's door, not only capitals but also in bold!

It has clearly been sent to everyone. Yes OP you have obviously not been bothering the surgery recently, but I bet others have been. A neighbour told me crossly the other day they went to the surgery and found it shut for 1 hour of essential training according to the notice posted up and 'they didn't let me in even though they must have heard me banging on the door' !
This message is designed to stop this kind of nonsense and I say good on the surgery for giving clear unambiguous advice.

I don’t think you understand what spam texts are...

Pic attached to improve your understanding.

You are a treat OP.

MrsBtheparker.

I find your overuse of question marks deeply offensive

It was your inclusion of when you last saw them and ‘random people’ that makes people think that OP.

Why are you being goady at a time like this?

Would you rather your GP practice put vulnerable people at risk?

YABU.

Battlefield medicine is likely to begin very soon.

You have no idea how such a post makes HCPs feel right now - we're busy with a new disease trying to keep up with guidelines, trying to protect patients and staff, trying to do the usual things where possible and our own health is at risk?

It makes me feel isolated, undervalued and afraid that the general public is very much not on our side here.

I don’t know why people are repeatedly pointing out that the text message would have been sent to everyone on the GPS books and not just me: I KNOW that. That’s why I called it a spam message in my OP... because they sent the same message to everyone on their list

How else would they make sure all of their registered patients were contacted?

Absolutely fine

Yes send a whiny letter.

Do send one, they'll be ready for a good laugh or at least a bit of light relief.

Spam is irrelevant messages sent over the Internet, typically to a large number of users, for the purposes of advertising, phishing, spreading malware - this is NOT spam! You need to know what the arrangements for consultations are, at your GP practice, in case you or a member of your family needs one.

It is much better for the surgery to send out one message to everyone on their books, explaining the new procedure, than to have to explain it to every person who rings in for an appointment.

Sorry but it would be utterly ridiculous for you to complain about this, and your attitude towards it is completely unreasonable.

But it's not spam.

Spam is unsolicited, and a message / email for which YOU HAVE NEVER GIVEN PERMISSION.

You will have opted in to urgent messaging from your health care provider. And frankly, even if you hadn't this is clearly not spam by the definition of any sensible person.

Does that make it clearer?

Send a letter and get yourself struck off. Be one less patient for them to see

Yes, get a grip. YADBU.

A SPAM message is one that is needlessly trying to solicit something from you.

You mean a BULK message, which this one is, and which is entirely reasonable given the circumstances, imo.

It’s not spam!

Should you become unwell, it’s information you will need, as a patient of their surgery.

You seem to be upset it wasn’t composed specifically for you? Get a grip.

The OP has returned to the thread and confirmed that she has taken heed of the comments. I voted yabu but I see no point in the continued attack on her. She gets it.

But OP receiving something relevant from a service you registered is not spam.

Receiving health updates from your GP during a global health crisis is not ‘spam’ it’s important information.

It isn't spam. It is a mass text - ie the same message to relay important information to a large number of people
I send mass emails out at work, and they are most definitely not spam.

"they sent the same message to everyone on their list" - do you expect them to send personalised messages to every client on their books? Of course they have sent a general message to all clients. To me everything in the message is a statement of fact. Would you prefer it to go on for pages or do you just want to know what to expect if you try to get an appointment?

I think the surgery probably have enough on their plate without having to also deal with your complaint, to be honest.

Massive overreact. Do you want smiley face emojis or something? Of course a text from a professional establishment will be worded like that - concise and straight to the point.
YABU I'm afraid.