Social Media Guidance for Patients

At Woodlands Medical Centre we use our website to provide useful information for our patient population. 

This practice has a duty to maintain patient confidentiality and to safeguard vulnerable patients. You can help us to achieve this by adhering to the following code of conduct:  

1. The organisation requires all users of portable devices to use them in a courteous and considerate manner and to respect their fellow patients. Portable devices are not to be used during consultations, except when agreed with your clinician.
2. Patients are not permitted to disclose any patient-identifiable information about other patients unless they have the express consent of that patient.
3. We encourage all our patients to make use of the NHS App to view their medical record and associated consultations and documents.  However, keeping this information confidential and secure is your own responsibility.  If you need help accessing the NHS App or increasing your access, please complete the form on our website via the contact us page.  
4. Patients must not post any material that is inaccurate, fraudulent, harassing, embarrassing, obscene, defamatory or unlawful. Any such posts will be requested to be deleted and will be reported.  
5. Patients must not post comments on social media that identify any staff. 
6. Patients are not permitted to film or take photographs in any area where other patients are present, nor is it permitted to film or take photographs of staff.
7. We have a separate Complaints Procedure that patients should follow if they wish to make a complaint. We will only respond to complaints made to the organisation in accordance with practice policy.  If a complaint is made on a social media platform, it will not be acknowledged and you will be asked to delete it.