Warning over doctors at risk from violence

From the Echo, first published Thursday 16th Oct 2003.

DRUG addicts and drunks are making life hell for doctors in Dorset, it has been revealed.

Threats and violence are common in surgeries and hospitals across the county and action must be taken to reduce the risks, it has been claimed.

The claims were made following a survey which revealed one in three doctors have experienced violence in the last year and 95 per cent of those have been verbally abused.

Doctors in casualty units and those dealing with psychiatric patients are most at risk but the threat of violence is increasing across the board.

The survey was carried out by the British Medical Association (BMA) whose local representative Dr Tom McKinstry said drink and drug problems are the main causes of problems in Dorset.

"A lot of people abuse medication and come back for more. Aggression usually arises because they are not given the prescription that they think they need."

Dr McKinstry said greater patient expectation also leads to friction if patients do not get what they want, when they want it.

And he said accident and emergency units are a focal point for aggression. "A lot of it is drink related."

The BMA has called for training for staff to handle potentially violent situations and the compulsory recording of all violent incidents.

It also asks that doctors work in partnership with the police and other agencies in a bid to tackle violence and that patients must be made aware of their responsibilities.

"No one working in a hospital or GP practice should have to put up with the threat of physical or verbal abuse," said BMA chairman James Johnson.

"We're talking about people who go to work in order to try to alleviate pain and treat ill health.

"The fact that they may expect to be punched, kicked or shouted at cannot be tolerated."

Chris McCarthy, human resources director at Poole Hospital, said: "Our rate of violence and verbal abuse isn't as high as that. We have our share of problems related to drink and drugs, and psychiatric problems are always difficult to deal with.

"We try and take active measures to make it clear to people that we find any violent or aggressive behaviour completely unacceptable."

Mrs McCarthy added: "We try to give our staff appropriate training in conflict management and give people a red card if they continually misbehave."