Attacks on GPs ‘continue to escalate unaddressed’

GPs who have been attacked must be given the power to transfer dangerous patients to secure designated public health facilities, instead of seeing their care moved onto another doctor’s practice, a health union has warned.

The National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP) has written to the HSE as it says attacks on GPs “continue to escalate unaddressed”. It says GPs have reported physical assaults, verbal abuse, and threats to themselves, their patients, and staff from these patients.

“Our members have serious concerns, not only for their own safety, but for that of their practice staff and other patients,”NAGP chief executive Chris Goodey said.