MORE than three-quarters of GPs in Scotland have reported an increase in verbal abuse or aggression from their patients over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey published today.

The research for the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS) investigated how healthcare professionals’ experiences in the workplace had changed from the first to the second year of the Covid-19 crisis.

Among Scottish GPs, 38 per cent said that incidents of patients directing verbal abuse at them and their practice staff had “significantly increased,” with a further 39 per cent saying that it had “somewhat increased.”

Of those GPs who had experienced verbal abuse or aggression in the workplace, 83 per cent said they felt more stressed than they did in 2020.

More than half of GPs said that they were considering taking early retirement or leaving their profession altogether, citing increased workloads, problems with mental health and wellbeing and staff shortages as the main reasons.

MDDUS chief executive Chris Kenny said: “The pandemic has stretched our healthcare professionals to the limit.

“For those at the very front line, it is clear now that the levels of stress have reached an almost unsustainable point.

“GPs urgently need recognition, reassurance and realism to support them so they can reset their relationship with patients.

“These findings should be a wake-up call for policy-makers up and down the UK.

“Their decision-making must factor in the clear connection between adequate funding and support for primary care services and health professionals and patient safety.”

Female GPs are more likely to face verbal abuse or aggression, according to the survey, with 81 per cent of female doctors saying that they had experienced an increase in this kind of patient behaviour compared with 72 per cent of their male colleagues.

The research also found that health professionals remain highly concerned that neither the government nor regulators have the right systems and rules in place to deal fairly with patients’ complaints about decisions or actions taken during the pandemic.

Across all health professionals, 65 per cent said that they do not think the Scottish government is prepared for the impact of complaints relating to healthcare delivered during the pandemic.

Among GPs, that figure increases to 70 per cent.

A Scottish government spokesperson said that they encourage all NHS organisations to support staff in reporting incidents so that action can be taken and that a “number of resources” have been developed to support health workers.