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Sunday, 16 July 2006 08:35

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Doctors’ surgeries face fines over waiting room music

The Performing Rights Society (PRS) has told all GPs in Scotland to stop playing music in their waiting rooms or face fines for breach of copyright.

GPs use music from radios and CD players to soothe patients’ nerves and to protect their confidentiality by drowning out conversations with their doctor or other practice staff.

However, according to the PRS hundreds are breaking the law by playing music in their waiting rooms without a licence It is estimated that up to £52,000 could be raised for composers, performers and music publishers by forcing surgeries to purchase a licence worth £75 a year. The only alternative is to stop playing music altogether or subject patients to piped Muzak, which is not subject to the same royalty arrangements.

A spokesman for the PRS defended the move, which is part of a UK-wide campaign to recoup royalties from businesses and other organisations. “The money received for these licences will be divided between composers and songwriters, the vast majority of whom are jobbing composers and songwriters, not the big names that most people think of,” the spokesman said.

“We only charge for music being played in waiting areas, we do not charge for music used for a therapy session or a treatment room.

“We want to make doctors aware that they may need a licence. We expect most of them to comply but ultimately an injunction could be issued to stop music being played and the doctor involved could be required to pick up the court costs”.

Dr Barbara West, a Glasgow GP and secretary of the Glasgow and Clyde local medical committee, is among those who have been targeted.

“This is not a joke, the PRS are very serious about it,” she said. “They have been targeting GP practices throughout Scotland and have sent us a letter warning that for using music, whether it’s on the television, radio, CD or when we put telephone calls on hold, we need a licence.

“A lot of practices have not been aware of this and they have been rushing around trying to get a licence before they are fined. We have had a lot of calls from doctors asking whether they really have to get a licence and we have told them that they must because this is not an idle threat”.

West added that most GPs were reluctant to stop playing music.

“We use music to create a relaxed atmosphere and as an aid to preserve confidentiality,” she explained. “If a patient is talking to a receptionist across a reception desk and there is a chilly silence in the waiting room, then other people can hear what is said. If there is music playing it distracts other people and muffles the sound, making it less likely they will hear what is being said”.

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