A group of patients who criticised their local GP surgery on Facebook have been told to consider finding a new doctor in an attempt to stifle negative feedback online . Staff at the Trent Meadows Medical Practice near Burton , Staffordshire , had been monitoring social media comments and culprits have since been sent 'threatening ' letters . Sylvia Blackshaw , 35 , had written that on three occasions she waited for 90 minutes for an appointment for her newborn baby . But she was later accused of abusive behaviour by the surgery who branded it 'inappropriate patient behaviour ' and warned her that she should consider finding an 'alternative practice ' . Row : Jenny Wheeldon , left , and Sylvia Blackshaw , right with son Jake , have been told to consider finding a new GP after their surgery saw their criticism online . Spark : Surgery staff were obviously monitoring comments on Facebook and sent a letter on the back of this one . Mrs Blackshaw had said 'OMG . Demand a recount ! ' in a comment on a glowing report for the surgery from health watchdog the Care Quality Commission on her local paper 's Facebook page . A fortnight later a letter sent to her home from the surgery said : 'We have a zero tolerance for inappropriate patient behaviour which is either face to face , over the telephone or on social media networks and do not accept this from our patients . ' A copy of her Facebook criticism was also attached . Warning : This letter from GP partner Judith Crosse has also been sent to other critics . Several other patients also received a letter . Mrs Blackshaw said : 'On three occasions I have been left sat in the waiting room for an hour and a half with a screaming newborn baby . 'When I saw that the surgery had been praised I was shocked . I do n't rate them . 'We 're mothers of young children living in the village . It 's the only surgery . I think they should take the criticism and use it to make the surgery better . 'People might receive that threatening letter and think they are being chucked out . ' Another patient , Jenny Wheeldon , 34 , was left upset by her letter , which came after she described months of poor service at the surgery in an online comment . She said : ' I have had mistake after mistake . I did n't think what I put was bad . It 's our opinion - that 's what social media is for . ' Several more people say they have received the letter , signed by GP partner Dr Judith Cross , which argues that complaints should go through the proper channels . The letter says : 'The partners at the practice are aware of your comments and how you feel . We have zero tolerance for inappropriate patient behaviour which is either face to face , over the telephone or on social media networks and do not accept this from our patients . ' The letter invites recipients to speak to the patient liaison manager and one of the GP partners , but adds 'in the absence of such a meeting , it is felt you might give consideration to finding an alternative practice to receive your general medical services ' . Response : The surgery 's management says that it has a 'zero tolerance ' on abuse and says patients should complain through them . A spokesman for Trent Meadows surgery said he was unable to comment on individual cases but said that the letter was proportionate . He said : 'While people do have a right to air their opinions on social media , practice staff feel we have a duty to protect the reputation of the practice from unfair criticism for the sake of our other patients and staff . 'Trent Meadows Medical Practice takes all patient comments seriously . If any patient has a concern or complaint , we offer the opportunity to contact the surgery through its complaints procedure . ' Trent Meadows was one of the first GP practices in the country to be inspected and awarded a rating of 'good ' by the inspectors .
Surgery near Burton has accused online users of ' inappropriate behaviour ' Sylvia Blackshaw questioned positive feedback and wrote a letter . She said : ' They should take the criticism and use it to make things better ' Several other Facebook users have also been warned about their behaviour . Letter said they ' might give consideration to finding an alternative solution '