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MSPs consider more GP protection GP protection 'should go further'
(about 1 hour later)
Plans to improve protection for GPs and community midwives are to be considered by MSPs. New legislation intended to protect doctors and community nurses from attack has been criticised by trades unions for not going far enough.
The measures were prompted by an attack on Dr Helen Jackson, 56, who was stabbed at her surgery in Hyndland Road, Glasgow, in August. Medical staff working in a hospital or responding to an emergency are currently protected by the law.
Ambulance workers, doctors, nurses and midwives working in a hospital or responding to an emergency are currently protected by the law. But the Emergency Workers Act is to be extended so health workers on non-urgent calls are also covered.
GPs, nurses and midwives on non-urgent calls in the community are not covered. The Unison union said the act should be extended further to protect other public sector workers from attack.
An extension to the Scottish Government's Emergency Workers Act has been laid before the Scottish Parliament. Unison's Scottish organiser Dave Watson welcomed the extension, but said it was "very disappointing" that it had not been extended to other non-emergency workers, such as social workers and traffic wardens.
It was a bigger problem in the days before GP co-operatives when you had doctors visiting on their own in the middle of the night without back-up or support Dr Stuart Scott,BMA spokesman Sadly there are a mindless minority who think it is acceptable to abuse and attack health workers Shona RobisonPublic health minister Firefighters and police officers are already covered by the legislation.
Public Health Minister Shona Robison said: "We owe our NHS staff a huge debt of gratitude for the work they do on a daily basis sometimes in challenging circumstances. Mr Watson said: "The act is called the Emergency Workers Act - not the Emergency Health Workers Act - and it was intended to cover all types of public service workers in emergency situations."
He said the union had long argued it should have a wider application, which could include social care workers in residential and home care, education workers in schools, environmental officers tracking illegal dumping, traffic wardens and safety wardens and utility workers.
Mr Watson added: "We hope there will be an opportunity to amend these regulations, to take account of the many people providing our services who need protection from unacceptable threats and violence."
STUC deputy general secretary Dave Moxham said it was right that GPs, nurses and midwives were protected from violence, irrespective of the location in which they work.
Knife attack
But he warned: "This is a missed opportunity to review the effectiveness of the current legislation and, following consultation with trade unions, extend the law to cover all workers.
"While obviously welcoming the extension to the powers of the act we will be asking the Scottish Government why they chose to ignore the views of the trade union movement on this occasion."
The extension of the provisions comes in the wake of a recent knife attack on a GP.
Dr Helen Jackson, 56, was taken to Glasgow's Western Infirmary after the incident in her surgery in the city's Hyndland Road.
A man is due to appear at the High Court in Glasgow on 17 December in connection with the incident.
The legislation does not cover GPs doing non-urgent calls
Announcing the proposals to extend the act, Public Health Minister Shona Robison said: "We owe our NHS staff a huge debt of gratitude for the work they do on a daily basis sometimes in challenging circumstances.
"Sadly there are a mindless minority who think it is acceptable to abuse and attack health workers ignoring the vital service they provide and the terrible impact this kind of behaviour can have on staff morale."Sadly there are a mindless minority who think it is acceptable to abuse and attack health workers ignoring the vital service they provide and the terrible impact this kind of behaviour can have on staff morale.
"The brutal knife attack on a GP in her surgery in Glasgow back in August was a shocking incident and highlighted that health workers working in the community are vulnerable.""The brutal knife attack on a GP in her surgery in Glasgow back in August was a shocking incident and highlighted that health workers working in the community are vulnerable."
She added that the Emergency Workers Act, which was passed by the Scottish Parliament in 2005, did not go far enough. She added: "This extension to the Emergency Workers Act will provide additional protection for GPs, nurses and midwives working in the community."
'Bigger problem'
The draft order will be debated by Holyrood's subordinate legislation committee.The draft order will be debated by Holyrood's subordinate legislation committee.
BMA spokesman Dr Stuart Scott, told BBC Radio Scotland that the wider coverage should have been put in place initially. BMA spokesman Dr Stuart Scott told BBC Radio Scotland that the wider coverage should have been put in place initially.
He said: "It was a bigger problem in the days before GP co-operatives when you had doctors visiting on their own in the middle of the night without back-up or support.He said: "It was a bigger problem in the days before GP co-operatives when you had doctors visiting on their own in the middle of the night without back-up or support.
"That was a big risk and that caused a lot of anxiety for a lot of doctors and nurses visiting in the middle of the night because that was when you were most vulnerable."That was a big risk and that caused a lot of anxiety for a lot of doctors and nurses visiting in the middle of the night because that was when you were most vulnerable.
The legislation does not cover GPs doing non-urgent calls
"Thankfully, these days all out-of-hours visits are usually with a driver and fully supported. In working hours, it's a growing problem as well.""Thankfully, these days all out-of-hours visits are usually with a driver and fully supported. In working hours, it's a growing problem as well."
Liberal Democrat public health spokesman Jamie Stone MSP said: "Violence against health and social care workers is unacceptable and a growing concern.Liberal Democrat public health spokesman Jamie Stone MSP said: "Violence against health and social care workers is unacceptable and a growing concern.
"Extending the Emergency Workers Act to protect NHS employees who work outside hospitals and with non-emergencies is a good first step.""Extending the Emergency Workers Act to protect NHS employees who work outside hospitals and with non-emergencies is a good first step."
STUC Deputy General Secretary Dave Moxham welcomed the move but was concerned about what he said was a lack of consultation on the extent of the amendments.
Public sector
He said: "It is right that GPs, nurses and midwives are protected from violence irrespective of the location in which they work.
"However, this is a missed opportunity to review the effectiveness of the current legislation and, following consultation with trade unions, extend the law to cover all workers."
Dave Watson, Unison's Scottish organiser, said: "While it is welcome that a small number of extra people are now to be covered by this legislation, it is very disappointing that the government has not taken the opportunity to extend the act to cover the many public service workers who face threats and abuse daily in working in the community."
A man is due to appear at the High Court in Glasgow on 17 December in connection with the incident at the GP's surgery.