GP secretaries increasingly being subjected to abuse from frustrated patients

A Wexford GP described the HSE’s system for counting patients waiting as 'a partial record of the excess capacity in the hospital system'. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

Frustrated patients are verbally abusing secretaries in GP practices at levels never seen before as delays in being seen or getting follow-on tests continue to worsen.

The Irish Medical Organisation’s annual general meeting heard GPs say the challenges have increased since the pandemic with higher numbers of sick people needing help.