There was an article in the Guardian this past week reporting on a survey conducted by the Medical Protection Society. The survey questioned almost 1000 doctors and found 56% of them had either directly experienced or witnessed abuse by patients (or their relatives). This included physical abuse (which is probably at least common assault) and verbal, including racial, abuse.
Long delays for care and staff shortages were reported as the main causes, with both GPs and hospital doctors saying that frustration with getting appointments was a common trigger. GPs reported regular abuse of reception staff over a lack of appointments, and GPs themselves being on the receiving end of anger about both GP and hospital waiting times.
The public are urged not to take out their frustrations on doctors or their colleagues; they too share the same frustrations and are acutely aware that waiting times are too long.
It also has to be stressed that violence, abuse or misconduct towards NHS staff is unacceptable at any time, and could result in prosecution for assault.
Guardian report at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jun/22/over-half-of-uk-doctors-have-seen-or-suffered-verbal-or-physical-abuse-survey/.