Why GP practices need to connect with patients

It has never been more important for GP practices - the backbone of the NHS - to effectively communicate with their patients.

Giving important information to people through social media channels like Facebook - and directly to their email addresses - is how patients expect to be contacted in our digital world.

With far fewer people visiting GP practices, patients confused by online misinformation and a growing complaints culture, Best Practice Communications creates effective, trustworthy health messages in the modern formats crucial for your surgery.

We can also ensure that your local media is on your side. We help practices engage professionally with the media to help create positive publicity, which is vital in giving patients confidence in their local GP surgery.

Best Practice Communications has a range of cost-effective, value for money solutions for the digital communication needs of GP practices, PCNs and federations.

How can GP surgeries communicate effectively with patients to free up overworked practice staff and blocked phone lines?

Our affordable services can help patient outcomes and satisfaction by improving health knowledge with NHS-aligned social media and newsletters.

With 85% of the UK population now using Facebook, how do practices combat misinformation on unofficial surgery Facebook pages and keep patients healthy despite fewer people seeing in-practice health information?

We create surgery Facebook pages, posting twice-daily health advice with negative comments screened out, and offer staff training. Our monthly digital newsletters give patients lifestyle and self-care advice to reinforce health campaigns, combat misinformation and promote wellbeing.

How do surgeries use Facebook to improve equality of access to healthcare?

Facebook is used by patients who are hard to reach, transient or frequently change their phone number. It automatically translates posts into other languages, while people over 65 increasingly use it.

How can GP practices improve their public profile and reputation in the face of negative publicity?

As an additional service, our public relations support promotes surgeries and manages bad publicity, leading to improved staff morale, enhanced practice reputation and greater patient satisfaction.