Doctors are frequently approached by the media for comment and they in turn seek advice from MPS on how best to reply whilst respecting patient confidentiality. Responding to this need for advice, MPS has launched its Media Handling Guide. The guide has been developed as a tool for all doctors to refer to when dealing with the media and is also available to all Trusts and Practice Managers.

Whilst developing the guide, MPS surveyed over 600 doctors on their experience of dealing with the media and captured a wide range of views from GPs and hospital doctors. A strong theme of patient confidentiality emerged.

The survey revealed that over 20 per cent of hospital consultants and ten per cent of GPs have been contacted by the press about a patient. More than half (58 per cent) of consultants had been contacted up to five times in the previous five years.

Sixty per cent of doctors rated media coverage about healthcare professionals as negative or very negative, but an overwhelming majority of 85 per cent of doctors recognised that patients who complain to the press don't forfeit their right to patient confidentiality.

Dr Stephanie Bown, Director of Policy and Communications said: "MPS is only too aware of the enormous stress that doctors experience when they fall under the media spotlight and find themselves subject to negative comments and are constrained in their response by the principle of patient confidentiality.

"In 2007 MPS dealt with over 80 press calls in the UK alone that related to a doctors treatment of a patient. Our media guide is published at a time when the GMC are consulting on their Guidance on Confidentiality, specifically how doctors respond to criticism in the press.

"We welcome the GMCs recognition of the need for advice in light of the increasing media criticism faced by doctors who are already working in a challenging environment."

Medical Protection Society