from Shepperton PPG
It is unlikely that the advent of social media made human nature more horrible, but quite plausi-ble that the discovery of other people being as nasty as oneself encouraged the unpleasant be-haviour daily to be discovered there. Probably very few of the anti-vaccine, anti-face mask bri-gade have no access to social media; this sort of nonsense is not dreamt up on one’s own. And then there is the doubtful privilege of anonymity, the chance to be vicious while avoiding re-sponsibility for one’s bad behaviour.
The hostility displayed to doctors, and to the staff of medical practices, is of course triggered by fear and anxiety, but is certainly exacerbated by finding on one’s phone or computer that other people are expressing violent opinions in distasteful language. I admit that a Government min-ister, and the tabloid press, have quite unfairly added pressure on General Practitioners.
The Patient Participation Group was conceived as a “critical friend” to the Practice, but the last two years have made it rather a friend fending off criticism which should never have arisen. We continue of course to ask questions and to give voice to legitimate unease; these days we are able to meet every second month in the conference room of the practice (with the windows open, and wearing masks even before Omicron appeared). Shepperton Councillors have gener-ously provided us with funds to open and run our own website, though this will only occur when we have acquired the expertise to manage one effectively. All readers of this publication are encouraged to send in points you would like raised, either to me, pe-ter.j.hughes@protonmail.ch or to the Chair, neal.adolphus@yahoo.co.uk