Doctors.net.uk is an online network for doctors in the UK and one of the first of any networking sites to be introduced on the web.
Founded by Dr. Neil Bacon (also the founder of iWantGreatCare) in 1998, the site offers a number of Web 2.0 features which allows doctors to communicate online – including email, an interactive forum, online training, e-learning, medical podcasts and access to an online medical textbook and medical image library .
Access is only granted to UK registered doctors and medical students, and it claims to have a membership of more than 160,000 doctors – more than 95% of all UK doctors.
More than 30,000 UK doctors log onto the site every day using its email, forums and professional development services.
The company is funded by allowing communication from private companies (such as pharmaceutical companies) and government bodies (such as the NHS and Department of Health) to its members.
On the commercial side, it provides communication campaigns for pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, the Department of Health and other public sector organisations and medical colleges, providing them with effective access to doctors for marketing, education, training and market research.
The company, based in Milton Park, Oxfordshire, remains an independent company with approximately 70 staff.