YouTube is where many patients go to understand a condition or a procedure before they see a doctor. The NMC’s October 2026 guidelines don’t ban doctors from YouTube, but they draw a clear line between education and self-promotion. Here’s how to stay on the right side of it.
What works within the rules
- Explaining conditions, symptoms to watch for, and when to see a doctor.
- Walking through what a procedure involves, preparation and recovery, in general terms.
- Answering common patient questions.
- Introducing your clinic and team factually.
What to avoid
- Patient testimonials or success stories, even with consent.
- Before-and-after results and outcome claims.
- Calling yourself the best or claiming success rates.
- Offers, discounts or calls to “book now” presented as promotion.
- Discussing identifiable patients.
Disclosures on every video
Show your name, qualifications and registration details on the video or in its description, as the guidelines expect for electronic-media posts. If you use AI-generated content, label it clearly.
Making videos that help
Keep videos short and focused on one question. Use plain language, add captions, and link to a relevant page on your website rather than a hard booking pitch. Consistency matters more than production quality.
For the full rules, read our plain-English guide to the 2026 NMC guidelines. Our healthcare video team can help plan and produce videos within them.
This article is general information, not legal advice.
