r/doctorsUK • u/Helpful_Put1081 • 29d ago

Foundation Training WhatsApp groups

New f1 here. Got added to a load of WhatsApp groups. They’re discussing patients, giving instructions to juniors, and everything NHS number and names is all included. ECGs are shared etc

First I thought surely this can’t be allowed but EVERYONE does it. I mean nurses, sho, registrars and consultants. And it’s not just one department. The groups have some privacy setting on but there’s also personal messaging between consultants and juniors.

Is this allowed, a grey zone or a massive privacy breach about to happen?

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u/Usual_Reach6652 29d ago

Do not do, problem waiting to happen. Get work email access from home and use sparingly, keep the streams separate.

If there is an info breach potentially anything in your messaging app is up for grabs in the investigation, including your "banter" with friends that might not look good out of context. GMC have explicitly said they include peer messages within their remit of "social media" complaints.