I think I may have a slight headache
from bashing my head against brick walls.
Most days I have to defend GPs to various relatives, friends and random people who find out I'm a med student. Every time I give them the same story, basically that it's the government's fault, the GPs are doing what they are paid to do- but this never seems to go down well. Today I see a couple of stories and well are people surprised they might get a few sharp words from doctors and support staff.
Both of these stories are shocking and outrageous and frankly I am ashamed to be in Dundee at the moment. Firstly we have Dr Raj a well respected and experienced doctor providing an almost life line service to Whitfield one of the most deprived areas in Scotland. The doctor after 23 years in Whitfield is closing the practice after years of violence and vandalism, the man was even attacked this week going to the post office. For full details go here or the Dundee Courier. The article I've linked to doesn't mention that Dr Raj is the only GP at the health centre- currently NHS Tayside have not made any decision about what will happen to his list- hopefully another GP will take over but it's unlikely, I can't imagine I'd go jumping into a job where the last person to have the post was chased out of the job.
And secondly people wonder why OOH services are so shocking right now THIS is why.
Attacks on healthcare workers are rising at an alarming rate and the current legislation does not work- thankfully Scotland has some but it doesn't go far enough- if you attack any body working for the NHS (and the police and fire brigade for that matter) you forfeit the right to treatment- harsh but in this climate of knife crime and the attitude by sections of the community that the only way to speak to healthcare workers to shout and be abusive with regular threats of violence is the only to get anything done, is outrageous and needs to be dealt with. We need to reinstate the feeling of mutual respect between patients, families and staff- however I don't feel that as a service we should have to pander to the demands of the idiotic minority.
posted by DundeeMedStudent @ 6:57 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Dundee Medical Student, I know that attacks on NHS staff are rising in number (that is, I read it), presumably in line with a more general rise in attacks, with a greater violence, with increasing inequality. But it's pretty clear to me that Dr Raj was hounded, harassed and attacked because he's of Asian origin. I wish I believed the white medical profession stood up as strongly for their black or Asian colleagues as I think they should: Dr Raj's case should never have come to this.
Whoa. I had no idea it was that bad. Then again I am cocooned in my squeaky clean ivory tower. But attacks against doctors? Heinous. If they'll do that because he's Asian I wonder what they'll do to a cyclops with a hugeass horn protruding from his forehead.
(P.S. Update this bucket, DMS!)
terry peebles here, ex patient of dr raj,dr raj is a disgrace to the nhs, he made me unwell,of course people will attack him these people need help and hes not giving it. he never helped me in anyway just made me worse. (some doctor that).
It's easy to blame this on race but other smaller black men work in whitfield and don't get attacked. This man was singled out because he can't communicate with these people properly. I believe this man has some serious problems with drug users and he doesn't really care or ever cared about them. He's not a pleasant man and a bad doctor. oh but i forgot you don't get bad doctors do you? Of course not. So we'll blame it on his colour then.Any excuse rather than looking closer into dr raj. he brought it all on himself.
Terry peebles.
EX patient.
Terry.
If you had issues with the care provided by Dr Raj you should have complained to NHS Tayside, rather than bitch and moan to me.
Dr Raj was my doctor for many years. Our family moved back to dundee when i was 17. Over the years i have had many comments to quit as his patient, but i stayed with him. Not only was he a great doctor to myself i then went on to have 4 children and don't have any complaints about him and his staff. My family and I will really miss having him as our doctor.
P Mclauchlan
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