Peppa Pig ‘fueling unrealistic expectations of GP services’

Cartoon also encourages inappropriate use of services, says doctor

Cartoon character Peppa Pig has been blamed for contributing to patients’ unrealistic expectations of what they can expect from their GP.

A general practitioner, writing in the BMJ, also suggested the TV show aimed at preschoolers could be encouraging inappropriate use of services.

Dr Catherine Bell said she has often wondered why some patients immediately attempt to consult their GP about minor ailments, and as the mother of a toddler who is an avid watcher of the series, she writes that she thinks she has discovered the answer.

Among the characters on the show is Dr Brown Bear, a GP who works alone and also appears to provide his patients with an excellent service, prompt and direct telephone access, extended hours, and a low threshold for home visits.

In the tongue-in-cheek piece, she offers a number of case studies and considers the potential impact Dr Brown Bear’s actions could have on patient behaviour. In the first, Dr Brown Bear makes an urgent home visit to a threeyear-old piglet with a facial rash.

He reassures the parents it is “nothing serious” and offers a dose of medicine, adding that the rash is likely to clear up quickly regardless.

This case questions whether Dr Brown Bear is an unscrupulous private practitioner for conducting an arguably clinically inappropriate home visit, writes Dr Bell.

“It is also an example of unnecessary prescribing for a viral illness, and encourages patients to attempt to access their GP inappropriately,” she adds.

Peppa Pig is broadcast in more than 180 countries, meaning the way primary care is portrayed is likely to be influential to many people all over the world, writes Dr Bell.

While Peppa Pig conveys many positive public health messages, she suspects “exposure to Peppa Pig and its portrayal of general practice raises patient expectation and encourages inappropriate use of primary care services”.

Dr Brown Bear on a home visit.