LMC leaders have raised fresh concerns over privately-run practice rating websites, after GPs at one surgery claimed they had been incorrectly labelled as ‘private providers' without their knowledge.
Kent LMC said it had been forced to contact the GPC after a practice in the county reported finding itself advertised on the website WhatClinic.com.
Di Tyas, deputy clerk at Kent LMC, wrote in the committee's latest newsletter: ‘A practice alerted us to the fact that they found themselves advertised as private providers on a website – WhatClinic.com - that they had no connection with whatsoever.'
A spokesman for WhatClinic.com said: ‘We publish information about as many clinics and practices as we can so that patients visiting our website have the broadest choice of treatment options possible.'
'In the event of incorrect information being found we are happy to correct it. Clinics are also free to take control of their own listing and update it as they see fit.'
The dispute came as the GP pioneer of fellow ratings website IWantGreatCare took to the stage at the Conservative party conference in Manchester to make the case for greater use of online patient feedback.
Dr Neil Bacon, founder and CEO of IWantGreatCare, said: ‘We will still hear resistance against such transparency. But it's absolutely vital data is published if the NHS is to improve.'
