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

And this^^ is why doctors don't post on the health forum and roll their eyes when someone mentions mumsnet.

I was about to post on this thread, but Beeaware and her one-issue crusade points out everything that is dangerous about recommending any social media site for information: anybody at all can post with the air of authority and spout whatever ill-conceived stuff they want.

Yes, I have pointed pts in the direction of MN, but usually recommend more specific sites, such as Kellymom or Dr Jack Newman for BFing issues for instance.

And a whole 30 seconds spent googling has shown that Dr Sue Pearson is not a GP or a medical doctor or a scientist with a special interest in CJD or knowledge of cleaning medical equipment. Not does she claim to be - she is a science writer who writes press releases.

So a great example of misinformation on social media, thanks Beeaware.

Kundry, is this the Dr.Sue Pearson you are talking about in the link below who has a Ph.D in Molecular Biology, I am not going to make any assumptions myself that this is the same Dr.Sue Pearson who commented in the Daily Mail article,as it would be foolish to make assumptions on a public forum, I have no idea who Dr.Sue Pearson is other than that she states she is a Doctor.

internationalsciencewriter.com/the-team/

@RhondaJean

Rowan not a GP here but I wrote a report for a previous employer about support for new mums which was then circulated and distributed and is available free online, if you like I could pm the link (if I can find it), MN was one of the online resources I mentioned in it.

Not sure if that's a bit off topic for you or not.

Yes please Rhonda, sounds interesting! Could you email it to [email protected]? Thanks very much

Beaaware that link has set off my anti virus software. It's blocking a trojan horse. Would advise others not to click on it.

I would be wary of reccomending anyone to this site for health issues. Yes there is some great advice and support,but there are also those who spout rubbish very authoritavely and to the layperson it is not obvious who is presenting opinion and who is presenting fact,who us actually a HCP and who just wants to be one

Totally agree with this. I'm a GP but avoid most health-related threads for exactly this reason. Not to mention threads like the recent AIBU one where a poster compared GP receptionists to concentration camp guards . When I do venture onto a health thread, I can usually identify the real HCPs because they are the ones being cautious and just offering general guidance on how to seek help, not trying to diagnose over t'internet. The more definitive the post, the less likely to be an HCP!

I think MN is a great source of support for parents, including sharing patient/carer experiences, but is not a safe source for advice on healthcare.

Sorry Rowan just noticed your reply I will do it now if I can find the link.

Anyone I think that there are a great deal of benefits to people's mental wellbeing from sites like this. It's not just recommending people come here to ask about a health issue as such, it's the lower level support networks which can be developed.

Yes, I admit it, I am a GP. I have very occasionally pointed a patient with specific problems to this and other forums for support, in the same way I might signpost Mind or diabetes Uk if it was appropriate. I would echo the responses that I would not send them here for medical advice. I suppose with the GMC guidance now, at least if someone says they are a doctor you can ask them to prove it and they should be giving their GMC number. Definitely means I won't be putting myself in that position, unless you actually want a resident GP MNHQ?

I'm a psychiatrist and work with older people now but in the past when I did general adult psychiatry and often saw pregnant women and new mums (boss was male and patients often asked to see a female dr) I sometimes suggested they look at Mumsnet for support from other parents, but warned them that health and other advice was not necessarily from professionals (even if the poster said they were) and although the MH board is good for peer support they should address questions about their situation and especially medication to me rather than internet strangers. I also warned them about the swearing...

Rowan if you are there can you let me know if you got my email, I sent it Tuesday but not from the address I am registered on MN with and I've not had a confirmation you got it. If not I can pm the link to you.

Another one here. I never look at the Health threads that would be a busmans holiday. I lurk on relationships and have had huge support through the breakup of my marriage and subsequent divorce. I often tell patient about MN but usually for support not health advice. I think it was me postin gon cutteduppear s thread

I have been thinking for a while that it would be nice to have an NHS staff topic. Similar to the "Staffroom" for teachers. NOT for patients or health related questions but for NHS staff to chat, support and empathise with each other. Obviously, no specific patient cases would be discussed and confidentiality would be maintained at all times. Just somewhere to let off steam, scoff the chocolates on the nurses station, calm down and find an understanding ear from like minded people.

Do you think that this could be possible Rowan ?

@RhondaJean

Rowan if you are there can you let me know if you got my email, I sent it Tuesday but not from the address I am registered on MN with and I've not had a confirmation you got it. If not I can pm the link to you.

Ah, I haven't seen it yet - if you PM me with the email address you send it from I should be able to find it, hopefully!

@Shaky

I have been thinking for a while that it would be nice to have an NHS staff topic. Similar to the "Staffroom" for teachers. NOT for patients or health related questions but for NHS staff to chat, support and empathise with each other. Obviously, no specific patient cases would be discussed and confidentiality would be maintained at all times. Just somewhere to let off steam, scoff the chocolates on the nurses station, calm down and find an understanding ear from like minded people.

Do you think that this could be possible Rowan ?

Always open to new topic suggestions! What do other posters think?

Dh is a GP. I know in the past he has said to patients "my wife got lots of useful information about breast feeding/weaning/children not sleeping etc from mumsnet.

There already is a closed doctors internet forum site which I, and I think a lot of the other medical posters use.

That feels much safer in terms of destressing and letting off steam. However even there, there have been issues with other members (or members of the press) reporting posters to the regulatory body or employers. Not only the GMC, but the NHS as an employer is very hot about use of social media.

An NHS forum here would need very careful moderating (unless it was just seen as the poster's problem if they got into trouble) and Mumsnet Towers would need to research the issues first as they are different to other forums. It could easily be a source of a lot of negative publicity given the current interests of the Daily Mail et al.

Very good points Kundry

I would like to think that posters would be mindful of NMC rules and abide by them.

What I am thinking of is an anonymous place for like minded people to talk to each other with empathy and understanding.

Obviously, no specific cases or client details or disclosing the geographical area where the poster works.

Eg "I've had a mad busy day today, thankfully I'm not on call"

That would have been my post of the day. Exciting I know...

I'm thinking of starting a thread called "NHS workers, sign in here.” And see how that goes... We'll see...

bet nobody answers

I cannot get on with that other forum - too slow moving, I think. Something is not quite right with if for me it's not MN, but you are right, Kundy, I'd be much more comfortable posting professional stuff there.

agree that if mn wants GPs to recommend mn for healthcare support it would be better if they had paid professionals moderating the site.

I'm a GP (namechanged obv). I've never recommended mumsnet to a patient but I did recommend womens aid to a patient the other week after hearing about it on here.

Hmmm I've hesitated to post this for a couple of days, but as a non-HCP I really value not having anything moderated by HCPs here.

There are a lot of threads on here about women having experienced dismissive doctors, birth trauma, dogmatic or out of date advice from consultants and health visitors.... It seems to me you get a fair number of these threads on AIBU, Conception and Childbirth. I think quite a lot of laypeople post here to get other opinions, and to talk about the trouble they have communicating with HCP. To give one specific e.g., there are a fair few women on Conception with suspected luteal phase defects who have been told that this condition does not exist and all women have 14-day LPs... When they suspect their LP may be the reason behind their infertility. They use MN to bitch about garner lay opinion on such things.

For me, it would be a dreadful shame if that outlet were taken away or moderated. After all, as a non-HCP I can get professional healthcare advice whenever I want: from my GP!

Erm. I completely killed this thread, didn't I.