'The GPs who don't even know your name'? These patients would beg to differ...

As the row over A&E attendances and GP out-of-hours care rumbles on, the Daily Mail weighed in with a classic GP-bashing front page this morning, under the somewhat emotive banner headline ‘The GPs who don’t even know your name’.

The article, based on a leak of the speech health secretary Jeremy Hunt is due to make on Thursday, predictably stirred up a lot of GP anger. But when Pulse editor Steve Nowottny took to Twitter and jokingly suggested users tweet in support of their GP with the hashtag #myGPknowsmyname, it quickly became apparent many patients were up in arms too.

Lots of nice comments re GPs on Twitter today. Needs a hashtag - #mygpknowsmyname? MT @sectioned_ My GP is wonderful & GP practice excellent
— Steve Nowottny (@stevenowottny) May 21, 2013

Although it was a somewhat tongue-in-cheek suggestion, Twitter has responded (as Twitter often does) enthusiastically, with dozens of patients, GPs and other NHS staff taking to their keyboards in defence of the profession.

Here are a few of the best:

#mygpknowsmynameThe relationship is really important, because I have a chronic health condition. I don’t have to explain it over and over.
— Paula (@Paulacanrun) May 21, 2013

#myGPknowsmynameMy GP practice is brilliant!Excellent GPs. My husbands condition is managed very successfully, nothing too much trouble.
— Maggie (@titiantart) May 21, 2013

#mygpknowsmynameand the names of all the children we foster as well
— Martin Barrow (@MartinBarrow) May 21, 2013

@jeremy_hunt our senior partner frequently leaves the surgery after midnight.(…and yes, she knows everyone’s name too). #mygpknowsmyname
— Nurse Emma (@PracticeNursey) May 21, 2013

@pulsetoday #mygpknowsmynameattend infrequently; may be different GP; all are fantastic - caring, responsive, skilled
— Cathy Cooke (@Cleverestcookie) May 21, 2013

#mygpknowsmynameand is always supportive; always takes time to listen and always treats me as if I am the expert in “me”
— Susan Hoath (@Suziebells) May 21, 2013

What’s your experience of your GP? Tell us in the comment section below or on Twitter with the hashtag #myGPknowsmyname.