Poll shows extent of doctor abuse

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6134556.stm

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Two in five doctors in Northern Ireland have experienced either physical violence or verbal abuse in the last year, a survey has found.

The research, based on the responses of almost 1,000 doctors, was carried out by the British Medical Association.

Some doctors said they had experienced verbal abuse or threats as many as 20 times and more than 100 said they had been physically attacked.

Three per cent of doctors said they were badly injured in these attacks.

The BMA survey to gauge the level and nature of violence against staff was launched in August.

All doctors in Northern Ireland were asked to provide information on the extent and type of violence they have experienced in their workplaces.

At the time the BMA said it was launching the campaign as a policy on such attacks would not be in place in Northern Ireland until next April at the earliest.