Exclusive GP practices in one area have received funding from their ICB for staff wellbeing in light of the racist riots which took place earlier this year.
GPs and practice staff across the country were targeted with abuse and violence during the riots, following an attack in Southport that resulted in the murder of three young girls.
Practices around the country had to close early as they feared for staff and patients’ safety, and the RCGP advised GP teams to ‘remain vigilant’ when travelling to and from work, as GP leaders worked with ICBs to develop action plans and ‘escalation measures’ for practices.
In Humberside, the LMC said that there was ‘a lack of immediate and tailored support’ at the time, and that the impact of the riots on practice staff extended ‘beyond the short term’.
Now Humber and North Yorkshire ICB has provided £50,000 to support ‘the health and wellbeing offer’ to staff affected by the attacks, Pulse was told.
The LMC said that the events had a ‘direct impact’ on colleagues from minority backgrounds, and created ‘wider distress’ amongst staff.
It added that the money will be used to offer support ‘directly’ to affected members of staff.
In an update to practices, it said: ‘The LMC are in receipt of some ICB funding specifically earmarked to support practices that were affected by the far-right rioting and domestic terrorism that mainly occurred in Hull, but also spilled out into Grimbsy and Scunthorpe, back in August of this year.
‘These events had both a direct impact on colleagues from minority backgrounds, and created wider distress amongst staff who live and work in those areas.
‘It was recognised that there was a lack of immediate and tailored support and education that could be offered, and that the impact on staff extends beyond the short term.
‘Our funding means we are able to offer two types of support – the first is aimed directly at minority colleagues, and the second is aimed at wider team support and training.’
At the time, Humberside LMC chief executive Dr Zoe Norris told Pulse that the attacks had been ‘very live’ and ‘very scary’ and that practices in her area were taken by surprise.
The LMC also shared a document with GPs which suggested practices take measures such as allowing staff to work from home or to keep mobile phones accessible at work, and that a member of staff in each practice should be nominated to track local disturbances or police alerts on social media groups.
The BMA also issued guidance following the attacks, and urged GPs to sit ‘closer to the door than the patient’ during consultations to remain safe.
