LISTEN: Survey reveals "worrying level of abuse" against GPs from patients

By Q Radio News

A survey from the British Medical Association has revealed more than a third of doctors in Northern Ireland, England and Wales have faced recent abuse from patients or those accompanying them.

For GPs, the number was higher, with half reporting verbal abuse in the past month.

More than 2,400 doctors took part in the survey across the three regions.

It revealed more than a third (37%) of all respondents had experienced verbal abuse first-hand in the most recent month, including 51% of GPs and 30% of hospital doctors, while one in five GPs reported being threatened. 

A figure equally as worrying was that half of respondents (51%) had witnessed violence or abuse against other staff, which rose to 67% for doctors working in general practice. 

Meanwhile, hospital doctors were most likely to report abuse of nurses (87%) or other doctors (65%), while in general practice, 96% of those who had seen colleagues face abuse said this was directed at reception staff. 

Two-thirds of GPs (67%) said their experience of abuse, threatening behaviour or violence had got worse in the last year. 

The most common place for abuse experienced by GPs was in their consulting rooms (53%), while hospital doctors said it was on wards (49%).

While respondents reported a number of factors they felt were behind the incidents, 64% (75% GP, 54% hospital) said the perpetrator was dissatisfied with the service or access.

Responding to the findings, Dr Alan Stout, Chair of the GP Committee of the BMA in Northern Ireland says the information is extremely concerning, particularly in what's already been a tough year for the health service. 

Dr Alan Stout addressing a previous meeting of Stormont's Health Committee

"This survey confirms and highlights a worrying trend that everyone in health care is unfortunately all too familiar with. 

"The past year has been extremely challenging for all healthcare staff and we fully appreciate the pressures and concerns of patients too. 

"Abuse however, can never be acceptable and leaves doctors feeling threatened and scared and impacts on productivity and quality of work and will ultimately affect patient care. 

"There must now be an honest public conversation about the NHS and what it can deliver, so people can have realistic expectations and not take it out on the workforce."

Dr Alan Stout speaking to Q Radio 

Responding to the survey findings Dr Richard Vautrey, BMA GP committee chair, said:

“The last year-and-a-half has been an incredibly challenging time for both doctors and patients, and many doctors share the frustration of their patients around unfamiliar ways of working, or if waiting times are too long.

"However, abuse, violence and threats are absolutely unacceptable and should never be tolerated.

“GPs and their colleagues are doing their absolute best, day in, day out, to provide care to their local communities, and we know that the vast majority of our patients appreciate the hard work we are doing.

"However, these findings show an incredibly worrying trend, with GPs reporting rising levels of abuse against staff in general practice, who are already working under intense pressure.

“Facing such abuse leaves doctors fearing for the safety of themselves, their colleagues and their loved ones, which can have a profound effect on their wellbeing.

"It can leave even the most resilient GP feeling alienated and undervalued, leaving them questioning their career when the NHS can ill afford to lose any more staff in general practice.

"Meanwhile, being on the receiving end of rudeness can impact productivity and the quality of work, ultimately threatening patient care.

“There must be an honest public conversation, led by the Government and NHS England, about the precarious state the NHS now finds itself in after 18 months of managing a pandemic, so that people have realistic expectations, and to prevent staff bearing the brunt of frustration and anger.

“Alongside the urgent need for support for general practice and the wider NHS from Government so that we stand a chance of meeting the growing needs of our patients, we’d continue to remind the public to be kind and considerate when contacting their surgery – we are humans too, after all.”