Disclaimer and social media policy
Using this website
We aim to provide a website that is accurate, useful, easy to use, and that respects your privacy. Below you will find information about copyright, links and availability/uptime. For information about privacy and how we work to make this website accessible see:
Copyright
All content on this website is copyright of the GMC unless otherwise stated. Access, use or re-use of any materials published on this website is granted for non-commercial purposes only, and any such use must always expressly acknowledge the GMC as the source and as the holder of copyright. Visitors must not distribute, or publish any material from this website for commercial purposes without first obtaining the permission of the GMC.
Links
Links are provided for information and convenience only. We cannot accept responsibility for the sites linked to, or the information found there.
Availability
We do not guarantee uninterrupted access to this website, or the sites to which it links. We accept no responsibility for any damages arising from the loss of use of information.
If you have any comments on how we can improve the website, please let us know by emailing webmaster@gmc-uk.org.
Our approach to social media
Corporate social media accounts
Our corporate social media accounts are managed by our communications team. We share news and updates with our audiences on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
We're available Monday to Friday between 9 am and 5 pm (UK time). We respond to queries and signpost to further information where applicable. If you need help, you can also contact one of our advisers.
We sometimes share, repost or like content from external accounts if it’s relevant to our work. This does not constitute policy endorsement or involvement. Similarly, connecting with individual accounts related to our work doesn't mean we endorse or share the views or content that these accounts post.
How we use Twitter/X
We no longer post on Twitter/X or reply directly to queries. However, we maintain our account to stay up to date on key issues relevant to our work. This informs our communications on other channels, including our direct communications to doctors, physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs).
We may post in exceptional circumstances where using all available channels is necessary to share urgent updates. This could include public health emergencies, major system disruptions, or misinformation that risks patient safety or affects our regulatory functions.
How social media informs our work
We use a range of social media channels to better understand our audiences’ experiences and perspectives, and to listen to what they - and our stakeholders - are saying about the GMC and other issues relevant to us.
We reflect on public posts alongside other sources of feedback, such as insights from in-person conversations with patients, doctors, PAs, AAs, students, and our partners across the healthcare system.
As part of this social listening, we analyse sentiment and trends, focusing on emerging themes and issues rather than individual posts or users. This helps us identify opportunities to improve our policies, services, and communications.
Moderation and being respectful on social media
We encourage open and constructive feedback and debate across our social media accounts. We can't moderate all comments on our posts. But we might remove comments that are:
- off topic
- disrespectful
- discriminatory
- obscene
- illegal
- promoting interests outside of our remit or otherwise inappropriate.
All communications on social media should be respectful. If posts are abusive or targeted towards staff, we'll block the offending account. We'll then report those posts based on the procedures offered by each social media platform.
Other GMC social media accounts
To support our statutory duties as a regulator, we maintain separate Twitter/X, Instagram and TikTok accounts, managed by a small team responsible for reviewing fitness to practise concerns.
These accounts are used solely to review social media posts that have been raised with our fitness to practise teams as part of a complaint from an individual, a referral from an organisation or following information from press reports.
Without these accounts, the teams responsible for handling concerns can only access limited information, as these platforms currently require an account for full access.
If concerns are raised, the teams may review publicly available content to gather relevant evidence and to help them assess the complaint. This is done only when necessary, proportionate, and in accordance with our fitness to practise processes.
These accounts are not used to follow individuals, engage with other accounts, or post content in any way, and there is complete operational separation between those teams managing these accounts and the teams managing our corporate social media accounts.
Good medical practice provides information and guidance about using social media as a medical professional.
How we respond to questions asked on social media
We make every effort to reply to questions on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. If we’re not able to, please visit our contact us page and you’ll be directed to the right person to help.
Reporting a concern
We don't discuss concerns about doctors, PAs or AAs on social media.
In cases where we're asked how to raise a concern, we may signpost to relevant information. However, this doesn't mean we endorse the concern or that it’ll be taken forward. It also doesn't mean we're the appropriate body to deal with it.
Visit our supporting you with your concern page, for more information about how we consider and process concerns.
Booking for the PLAB exams
Our communications team cannot assist with PLAB bookings, check availability, or individual queries via social media. For help, please speak with one of our advisers.
Guidance about individual situations
We signpost to our professional standards, but we can't respond to individual queries about the professional standards and how to apply them via social media. For queries about our guidance and any individual situations, please contact standards@gmc-uk.org.
GMC Online account issues
Our communications team doesn’t have access to your GMC Online account. For any queries about your account, please contact one of our advisers.
