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Medical practices in NSW are experiencing high levels of aggression from patients, with survey respondents reporting incidents of patients swearing, shouting, slapping, and punching doctors and medical staff.
A survey of 378 medical practices in NSW found 88% had experienced verbal aggression from a patient, while 37% experienced physical aggression.
“These incidences are extremely distressing for doctors and staff members, as well as other patients attending the practice. Unfortunately, as this survey reveals, these incidences are not rare events,” said AMA (NSW) President, Dr Michael Bonning.
“These alarming statistics underscore the need to expand legislation that applies tougher penalties for offenders who assault health workers to include healthcare workers and staff working in medical practices.”
NSW recently introduced reforms that create new offences ranging from 12 months to 14 years in prison for offenders assaulting frontline health or emergency workers. The Bill applies to paramedics, pharmacists and pharmacy staff, community first responders, community health workers, persons engaged to provide medical treatment to patients in hospitals and other similar health institutions, and persons engaged to provide security services in hospitals and other similar health institutions. The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Assaults on Frontline Emergency and Health Workers) Bill 2022 came into effect on 19 October 2022.
“In effect, the Bill excludes a range of healthcare providers, including general and private practitioners,” Dr Bonning said. “The NSW Government often talks about GPs and other private specialists being a respected part of the health system but when the opportunity arises to protect everyone equally, we are left out.
“NSW now has an opportunity to send a message that this type of behaviour is not acceptable in any setting, including medical practices.
More than 96% of respondents to the AMA (NSW) survey supported an expansion of the legislation to include healthcare providers and staff working in private practice.
“Doctors and staff are being abused for running behind schedule, not having appointments available, not providing mobility parking to ineligible patients, or for refusing to write prescriptions for opiates or benzodiazepines.
“During the COVID vaccine roll-out, aggressive behaviour intensified. Practices were abused for having limited supply of COVID vaccines, or for only having one type of vaccine available.
“Doctors reported receiving death threats, being followed to their cars, and having their practices spray painted and vandalised.
“Healthcare providers and their staff face the same risks as other frontline workers, so it’s only logical they would be afforded the same protections. We are urging the State Government to make this small adjustment and signal to patients and providers that abuse in any medical setting will not be tolerated,” Dr Bonning said.
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