The BMA has urged GPs to sit ‘closer to the door than the patient’ during consultations to remain safe, in light of recent riots and attacks spurred by racism.
In new guidance circulated yesterday, the UK GP Committees advised practices to ‘be conscious of the risks around home visits and being in consultation rooms alone with patients’.
The guidance told practices to ‘review’ their approach to home visits and decide whether they are ‘suitable’ or should be carried out alone in the current climate.
Earlier this week, the RCGP urged GPs and practice staff to be ‘vigilant’ as they revealed some had been ‘targeted with abuse and violence’ during racist riots across the UK.
Pulse has since reported on Manchester GP practices being advised to send staff home in taxis, and surgeries in North East London closing early yesterday over fears for staff and patient safety.
The riots and unrest began last week in various towns and cities following online misinformation about an attack in Southport where three young girls were murdered.
In light of these incidents, BMA GP leaders from all four nations sent out an update to members last night which said they ‘strongly condemn the racist attacks’ happening across communities.
They encouraged GPs to ‘accompany vulnerable colleagues to and from work if needed’ and avoid any planned disturbances during their commute.
The message to GPs highlighted that practice staff are at ‘increased risk during times of unrest’ since they are embedded within the ‘heart of the communities they serve’.
Practices also have less security than hospitals as well as a ‘hugely diverse workforce’, the update pointed out.
‘In particular, we have a large number of IMGs working in general practice who may feel particularly anxious at this time, you may also be British born and raised, but feel at increased risk due to the colour of your skin.’
On safety within the practice, the guidance said: ‘As a practice please review your approach to home visits, and consider whether home visits are safe and suitable at this time, particularly if going alone.
‘We also recommend that you become familiar with local security protocols (which may be surgery-specific or LMC-wide) in the event of local disturbances.’
It continued: ‘Within your GP surgery rooms, please also be mindful that you should be closer to the door/exit than the patient and ensure you know where your emergency buttons are.
‘This may be under the desk as a physical button, a click button on the computer, or certain keys on the keyboard.’
The national GP leaders urged any doctors who experience ‘racism’ or ‘hate-related incidents’ to report them to the police and to ‘formally raise it’ with the GP practice and health board.
For further advice, the BMA told practices to look at any ‘locally tailored guidance’ produced by their LMCs.
Humberside LMCs shared a document with local GPs on Tuesday which suggested practices take measures such as allowing staff to work from home or to keep mobile phones accessible at work.
The guidance also recommended that a member of staff in each practice is nominated to track local disturbances or police alerts on social media groups.
It said: ‘If trouble starts close to the practice, take immediate action. Lock doors, close shutters, and leave the premises if it is safe to do so. Have a planned exit route from the premises that ideally is away from main thoroughfares.’
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