One in three GPs are physically assaulted at some point in their career but most fail to report attacks to their superiors, a survey shows.
A survey of 900 GPs carried out by Pulse has revealed that six out of 10 GPs fail to report their most recent physical attack.
The survey found that 2.7% of GPs have been assaulted, 11.8% threatened with violence and 46.4% verbally abused.
While most GPs said follow-up procedures were effective when reporting assaults, less than half agreed they had been “appropriately supported” by their primary care organisation.
Only half the GPs assaulted by patients reported that the patient had been struck off the patient register.
GP opinion over whether assaults on GPs should merit longer sentences was split down the middle, with 59.2% saying they should not.
The NHS are to launch a two year violence awareness campaign this November.
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