THE abuse suffered by Inverclyde GPs and their staff on a daily basis is so bad it is having an impact on wellbeing says health chiefs.

Greenock Telegraph: Councillor Lynne Quinn

During a debate at the recent Inverclyde Integrated Joint Board on the decision to close seven local practices to new patients, the district's clinical director admitted staff wellbeing was one of the reasons behind the move.

Dr Hector Macdonald told board members it was at the forefront of their minds as they try to help healthcare staff recover from the pandemic and alleviate immediate pressure.

The Tele told on Thursday how pressures caused by existing issues - such as sickness, recruitment and retention - coupled with a recent increase in asylum seekers and foreign nationals had prompted the unprecedented decision to suspend new registrations.

During the discussion Councillor Lynne Quinn spoke about the abuse she had witnessed first hand and asked what was being done to support staff.

She said: "I can totally understand why a practice would close to catch up from Covid times.

"I use the health service myself and I have been shocked at the number of things they have to deal with on a day to day basis.

"Every time I have been in the health centre I have witnessed the abuse that some staff have taken. The pressure is there on the staff on a daily basis.

"In the first couple of minutes of my appointment I sat down and asked the GP if they were okay.

"They said this isn't just a one-off, every day they are chasing their tails.

"I think we have to worry about the health of our GPs, before they can work on the health of their communities. This isn't going to go away.

"Arethere certain other areas we can help to alleviate that immediate pressure?

Dr Macdonald responded by saying that this was indeed one of the reasons bosses felt they had to act.

Greenock Telegraph:

In his response he said: "I am pleased you bring up subject of the wellbeing of our health care staff. I think that has been a significant issue, and their wellbeing has been the reason behind the decision to allow some of the practices to close, to prevent that becoming a more significant issue.

"That is the forefront of our minds when looking after staff."

Since the pandemic the GP crisis has been well documented with patients struggling to get timely appointments as a result of huge demands on the service.

Dr Macdonald said: "Most of our staff feel they didn't have the chance to recover from the pandemic.

"There has also been an increased demand on services and frustrations sometimes boil over and staff get abused."