Staff abuses causes general practice to shut reception

As reported by the BBC News, Oakham Medical Practice in Rutland, Leicestershire has closed its front desk after staff members were subjected to “excessive abuse”

A spokesperson has reported that surgery reception staff were subject to “verbal abuse and physical intimidation”.

For a temporary basis, patients will instead now have to use a digital service to register.

Chair of the Leicestershire & Rutland Local Medical Committee, Dr Nainesh Chotai, said: “GPs understand the frustration of patients who struggle to make appointments with them, but verbal or physical abuse is not an acceptable response.

“Most practices are small businesses owned and run by the GP Partners who have a legal duty to protect their staff from abuse.

“The current situation is due to increased workload whilst the number of GPs has decreased.

“Although GPs are providing the highest number of appointments ever recorded, the increased workload due to the pandemic means that we cannot provide the service that our patients want and we would like to provide.”

Dr Grant Ingrams from Oakmeadow Surgery in Leicester hopes other GPs will not also have to follow suit.

“75% of practices are saying that they’re having daily abuse by members of the public,” said Dr Ingrams, who said that his surgery has lost two members of staff from abuse, including a patient throwing a computer across a room.