A GP has claimed he faces threats and abuse from patients at least twice a month.
Dr John Ip, who is based in Paisley, said there was always a fear at the back of doctors’ minds that incidents could turn violent.
In 2007 Dr Helen Jackson was repeatedly stabbed by a patient at her surgery in Glasgow.
And Dr Ip claims many GPs are now worried about a repeat.
He said: “That’s every GP’s nightmare. You are in your consulting room with a patient doing an examination and you get a weapon pulled out on you. Thankfully it is rare – but it does happen.”
Dr Ip, who sits on the Scottish Medical Committee of doctors’ union the BMA, was speaking after new statistics showed nine out of 10 GPs and surgery staff have suffered abuse by patients in the last year.
GPs from the Rebuild General Practice campaign say the hostile working environment, coupled with workloads and a declining workforce, is having a dangerous impact on doctors’ mental health.
A poll found 84 per cent of GPs have had anxiety, stress or depression in the last year and one in four knows colleagues who’ve taken their own lives because of work pressures.
Dr Ip, 48, said while he had not received physical abuse he had been shouted and sworn at over the phone.
He said: “We understand people are frustrated because they have a long wait to see us face-to-face and, for hospital services, it is a significantly longer wait. But it is never easy being on the receiving end.”
The doctor said he received such abuse once or twice a month – up from once or twice a year. He said some of his own colleagues are having to put up with more frequent abuse.
He said: “I have heard of patients kicking doors demanding to get into the surgery, patients throwing chairs around in reception.
“GPs are trying our best. We want the best for all our patients but it is a very challenging time at the moment.”
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