Rate my doctor site launched

UK doctors now face a form of scrutiny far more terrifying than the GMC: from Sunday we will be rated on-line by our patients on Iwantgreatcare.org.

The site is a shining example of Darzian medicine and will give all of us lazy, unsympathetic doctors a kick up the backside:

Professor Chris Bulstrode, of Oxford University, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and member of the GMC, said: ‘This website is a great idea and will put the cat among the pigeons with the medical profession, which is just what’s needed. Doctors will feel threatened, and rightly, as one or two will find their trousers round their ankles.’ from The Observer.

The concept of the site will make many doctors’ stomach churn – including my own. Its a nasty gimmick that fails to realise that the perceived quality of a doctor depends on many external factors, such as the firm they are working in, working patterns, hospital management and training. The medcal blogging community are, unsurprisingly, kicking off, with NHS blogging doctor summing things up well.

Pulse reports that Dr Bacon, the site’s founder, has been issued a formal warning from lawyers representing a group of 37 doctors who oppose the site.