While I don’t condone this behaviour *at all*, it’s not hard to see what’s happening here.
It’s damn near impossible to make an appointment to see a Dr right now. People are scared and frustrated. I’m not a violent person in any way, but I’ve had to massively reign in my frustration at the receptionists at my GP surgery because of how they’ve repeatedly let my wife down. They don’t follow up on anything, they’ve made it hard for her to ask any questions, I had to wait on hold for 40 minutes last week, just to confirm an appointment she’d been able to make, an appointment that was nowhere to be seen on the app. Turned out they’d brought it forward by 20 minutes without actually letting her know.
They’re short staffed, and still working under Covid rules, so it’s tough, but I don’t see that changing at all. Add to that massive underfunding by that shower in Westminster, and you’ve got a perfect set of circumstances that lead to sick, frustrated people lashing out.
Of course people are losing their minds and rightfully so. Even a hamster will bite when in pain.
>There are concerns that more GPs may leave the profession due to harassment and threats of violence faced at work.
Think it is passed the point of just concern.
I’m not surprised. Everyone (that I know) in my GP area recently received a message saying ‘Do not contact the surgery unless it is an emergency’. What kind of process waits for everything to become an emergency before it will see people. Also, I work for a front line service so I probably shouldn’t say it, but GP receptionists are often ready for a fight before they answer the phone/open the door. The minute you start on the defensive and are poised for aggression you will get it.
4 comments
While I don’t condone this behaviour *at all*, it’s not hard to see what’s happening here.
It’s damn near impossible to make an appointment to see a Dr right now. People are scared and frustrated. I’m not a violent person in any way, but I’ve had to massively reign in my frustration at the receptionists at my GP surgery because of how they’ve repeatedly let my wife down. They don’t follow up on anything, they’ve made it hard for her to ask any questions, I had to wait on hold for 40 minutes last week, just to confirm an appointment she’d been able to make, an appointment that was nowhere to be seen on the app. Turned out they’d brought it forward by 20 minutes without actually letting her know.
They’re short staffed, and still working under Covid rules, so it’s tough, but I don’t see that changing at all. Add to that massive underfunding by that shower in Westminster, and you’ve got a perfect set of circumstances that lead to sick, frustrated people lashing out.
Of course people are losing their minds and rightfully so. Even a hamster will bite when in pain.
>There are concerns that more GPs may leave the profession due to harassment and threats of violence faced at work.
Think it is passed the point of just concern.
I’m not surprised. Everyone (that I know) in my GP area recently received a message saying ‘Do not contact the surgery unless it is an emergency’. What kind of process waits for everything to become an emergency before it will see people. Also, I work for a front line service so I probably shouldn’t say it, but GP receptionists are often ready for a fight before they answer the phone/open the door. The minute you start on the defensive and are poised for aggression you will get it.