"Please don't abuse our NHS staff"
The Priory Medical Group in York says they're getting more reports of a minority of patients being aggressive and abusive towards staff.
Last updated 6th Dec 2021
The Priory Medical Group in York is urging patients not to intimidate or be abusive towards staff members.
It's as they've said they're getting "an increasing number of reports that a small minority of patients are being aggressive and abusive to our staff".
The team added that "this will not be tolerated. Our teams do an incredible job and are trying as best they can to address patient queries as quickly as possible".
Doctor Abbie Brooks is a GP at the Priory Medical Group:
"It's been really varied from just minor disgruntled comments towards receptionists - they're the frontline as it were to general practice. They're experiencing frustration even though the patient may not have said anything; it's clear they're upset or angry even before we've had chance to talk to them.
"We've also had physical aggression towards staff and even racist abuse. There are also accusations that GPs aren't working at all, that we're hiding away and haven't been working through the pandemic. It's a wide spectrum.
"It's just a symptom of how we're all feeling as we're sick of this pandemic, but we feel we're taking an unfair brunt of that".
Doctor Brooks says the reports go back before the reintroduction of mandatory face masks in shops and on public transport, and has been escalating in the past few weeks:
"Things started to get worse as general practice started to be in the media more. There was a lot of talk that we weren't doing enough face to face and a lot of entitlement that people - according to the newspapers - deserve a face to face appointment.
"A lot of that hasn't helped and there's been a lot of negativity towards general practice in the mainstream media.
"Generally patients have been very kind and grateful for the care they get, and that's the case from the majority of patients to the majority of staff. However, I have experienced being in the same room as someone and they've said 'oh, you're not seeing anyone!'
"There are loads little microaggressions, but I haven't thankfully experienced the more end of the scale kind of physical aggression. However, it's quite an isolating job as I'm on my own usually in the consulting room with a patient.
"It can be quite scary if someone starts to raise their voice. I'm not very big, and if it's a big chap getting a bit antsy it does get you quite tense and worried about the potential outcome if they were to get angry and aggressive".
There was a warning from the BMA (British Medical Association) this Autumn that GP surgeries across the country are experiencing significant and growing strain with rising demand, practices struggling to recruit staff, and patients having to wait longer for appointments.
Greatest Hits Radio York was also told in October by Doctor Rumina Önaç of the Old School Medical Group in York that too many misconceptions have spread about GP surgeries being closed during the pandemic.
Doctor Brooks has this message for patients in York:
"The team at the NHS - whether it be general practice, A and E or people in the community - are doing their absolute hardest. We wish we could do more and deal with all of your problems in the timeframe that you wish of us.
"However, we have absolutely no tolerance for verbal, physical or any kind of aggression to my staff members. We will take action if we experience that.
"We care about our staff; we care about our patients. We all need to be aware of our behaviours and the effect that can have on people".