Doctors need to be trained how to deal with difficult and irate patients, says the British Medical Association (BMA).
The British Medical Association (BMA) Welsh Secretary Richard Lewis said at the BMA’s meeting in Torquay that NHS staff deserve to work in a safe environment.
“The BMA has already led calls for a zero tolerance approach on abuse and violent attacks against doctors,” he says.
“Unfortunately, drunken and loutish behaviour remains the most common problems facing doctors not only in A and E departments but in their day-to-day surgeries.”
Lewis believes that doctors need to be advised and trained on how to deal with potentially difficult situations.
“This is an issue that society as a whole needs to tackle with some urgency, particularly as we see a marked increase in the number of female doctors,” says Lewis.
“The Welsh Assessembly Government needs to take this issue seriously and I am calling on them to ensure that all doctors get the training and avice they need to deal with the growing number of abusive patients.”
