Dr John Holden, chief medical officer at the MDDUS, said: “Violence and abuse towards NHS staff can have a devastating impact on people already under intense systemic pressure, with many now having to take time off sick or deciding they have no option but to leave their profession completely.”.
Dr Claire Fuller, primary care medical director for NHS England, said it is not acceptable to “bash” GPs, who are “exhausted” and working “flat out”.
More than a quarter (28%) said they or their team had been the victim of physical violence from patients, while more than a third (35%) said they had suffered racial abuse and 15% told the poll they had been the victim of sexual abuse.
“So actually, being able to go to the community pharmacies who are open at weekends with longer opening hours, so they don’t have to take time off work to get an appointment or to phone and go by the GP, just makes it easier for people to live their lives in the way that works for them.”.
“When you talk to GPs about why they leave, they say one is about the workload and the other one is about respect,” Dr Fuller told the PA news agency.
