Dr. Hilary Jones: 'TikTok Self-Diagnosis Is Deadly'

A Career Spanning Decades and a Life of Vigor

Dr. Hilary Jones has been a familiar face in British households for over three decades, offering reassurance and medical expertise through both calm and crisis. From his debut on TV-am in 1989, he has navigated the ever-changing landscape of breakfast television, from the golden days of GMTV to the challenges of Daybreak, and now serves as a trusted voice on Good Morning Britain and Lorraine. This impressive journey began with a career as a general practitioner, having qualified in 1976.

The Evolution of Medicine and Media

Jones reflects on how much the medical world has changed over the years. “There used to be this aloofness in the GP’s office, where patients thought the doctor was all-knowing and all-powerful,” he explains. “Now, doctors are becoming more human and accessible, which is a positive shift.” However, he also notes the impact of social media, which has introduced new challenges. “People have become very gullible. They believe anything just because it's on a social media platform. Some of it is downright dangerous.”

One such example is the misinformation about sun cream causing skin cancer, which he calls nonsense. “If people follow it, they’re going to get skin cancer.” He also shares his own experience with deep fakes, where fake videos of him appear to say dangerous things. “It’s disturbing. Not only is my reputation at risk, but they’re selling stuff that doesn’t exist to vulnerable people. And if you complain to Facebook or TikTok, they don’t care; they just say there’s not enough reason to take it down.”

Assisted Dying and Personal Experience

Another topic close to Jones’s heart is assisted dying. He speaks candidly about supporting it under the right circumstances, especially after losing his mother, Noreen, last February. “For me, it should be about removing horrible suffering in the last few days of someone’s life,” he says. “The best palliative care can't always give that relief. With my mum, it wasn’t enough to stop her suffocating, not being able to swallow, not being able to breathe, and begging to be released. If everyone knows what the patient wants, why would you not grant them their wish? It’s the most loving thing to help somebody right at the end of their life where there’s no prospect of recovery and they’re just suffering.”

A Life of Activity and Vitality

At 72, Jones is in excellent health, aside from a recent hip replacement. He credits much of this to his mindset and strict exercise regime. “I’ve got a T-shirt that says: ‘It’s weird being the same age as old people.’ I constantly think I’m still 30, and that’s a much better place to be than thinking you’ve got one foot in the grave. I’m going to grow old disgracefully, wearing lots of bright colours.”

He has always been active, participating in rowing, squash, running, marathons, abseiling down the BT Tower, and windsurfing. “I love it and would rather prescribe exercise for patients than give them pharmaceutical medicines.”

Family, Work, and Creative Pursuits

Keeping busy is another key to his longevity. “I’m privileged to have a big family. I’ve got six grandchildren. I’m not particularly good when they’re babies, but as soon as they’re walking, crawling, and riding a bike, I’m brilliant.”

In addition to his work as a doctor, Jones hosts a podcast, The Dr Hilary Show, and writes novels. His third book in a trilogy of historical medical dramas, Under Darkening Skies, is set to be released next week. “It struck me how many parallels there were between front-line NHS workers and front-line soldiers in the First World War, and then there was the similarity between the Spanish Flu of 1918, which killed more people than died in the war.”

Inspiration for his writing came during the pandemic, and he credits his creative flair to early experiences. “The late Mel Smith was in my class at school. I wrote a couple of plays with him. We put on dramas and did lots of creative writing, and I’ve carried that with me since.”

Under Darkening Skies is out on 31 July (Mountain Leopard Press, £20).