A Guide for Doctors on Handling the Media

Introduction

The MPS press office is staffed by professionals experienced in dealing with the media. We are here to advise you on how best to respond to a press enquiry, how to draft a press statement, or to deal with the media on your behalf, acting as your spokesperson. Few doctors would welcome being approached by a reporter with questions about a patient's care – especially when they are least expecting it. If you find yourself in this situation, it is important that you know what to do. This guide provides advice on the most effective way to respond to a journalist, from initial contact to issuing a statement, so that you can get back to your patients and practice swiftly.

When you first contact the MPS press office, we will assess how best to manage your individual situation and let you know how we can help. In many cases this will entail issuing an agreed statement on your behalf in response to an enquiry from the media. Whatever the case, we will do what we can to help you. The press office helps over a hundred individual members a year and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with an onduty press officer contactable outside normal office hours.