Surgeries blasted over pub and hypnotherapy adverts

MEDICAL practices have come under fire for allowing advertising from pubs, hypnotherapists and funeral parlours on their websites and appointment cards.

Many GP surgeries include adverts to meet the costs of the cards and websites, but critics say the practice is inappropriate and suggests that the doctors are endorsing the advertisers.

In many cases, the surgeries use intermediaries who sell advertising on appointment cards to businesses and then provide the cards free to surgeries.

Margaret Watt, of the Scotland Patients' Association, said: "The fact that anyone can pay to advertise is a threat to patients. When used to advertise alcohol, this is absolute hypocrisy, totally unacceptable and morally wrong."

Among those highlighted by critics was Colinton Surgery, which allows nearby Spylaw Tavern to advertise on its appointment cards.

Evelyn Gillan, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: "It is astonishing that this surgery, where many people go for the solution to alcohol issues, is advertising the local pub."

Practice manager David Trundle defended the adverts and said the pub was "part of the community".

Practices featuring advertising on their websites include Penicuik Medical Practice, which carries a funeral directors' advert, while Deans & Eliburn Medical Practice in Livingston features adverts for hypnotherapy and personal injury specialists.

Deans & Eliburn practice manager Alex Watson said: "I don't see a problem. It's a patient choice whether to see them."

Oldroyd Publishing Group, which provides online and appointment card advertising for many Scottish surgeries, said it always asked GPs for a list of the businesses they don't want to advertise on their website. Other firms involved in the business are Health Care Medical, Surgeries Online and Leisure Medical UK. Between them the firms are reported to have about 880 of Scotland's 1083 registered surgeries on their books.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We expect GPs to consider carefully who they allow to buy such advertising and we will raise the matter with the BMA, asking them to remind members of their responsibilities to promote appropriate public health messages."

A spokesman for the British Medical Association in Scotland said: "The decision to allow businesses to advertise on an appointment card is one made by the practice directly."