17/10/2025
It really saddens us to have to write posts like this, as we know it’s probably not our lovely followers who are responsible — but we do need to raise awareness.
In recent weeks, some GP practices have reported incidents where members of staff — particularly reception teams — have experienced abuse and threatening behaviour from patients.
This behaviour is unacceptable, and practices will respond accordingly to protect their teams. In serious cases, practices have the right to remove patients from their list if they are violent or abusive.
We understand that everyone can feel anger or frustration at times — healthcare can be stressful for both patients and staff — but even though we’ve used AI imagery to illustrate these scenes, we’re talking about real people. As our colleagues in the Hospital Trust remind us: we are all human.
Healthcare staff should also treat patients fairly, kindly, and respectfully. If you have concerns about your care, formal complaints channels exist to raise them safely and effectively — abusive behaviour is never the right route. To learn more about patient and staff rights, you can read more in the NHS Constitution: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england/the-nhs-constitution-for-england
This message doesn’t just apply to GP practices — it includes all wider healthcare teams: dentists, opticians, pharmacists, hospital staff, community services, and everyone working hard to support patients across our area.
Maybe technology has changed our patience, concentration, and expectations — but not everything can be instant. Healthcare teams are working hard to provide the best care possible.
In a world where so many things seem to be increasing in cost, remember that kindness is still free to share. 💚💙
