3,000 violent patients

THOUSANDS of abusive or violent patients were barred from seeing their GP last year.

NHS England figures reveal that 3,0 4 people are signed up to a special register known as the Special Allocation Scheme. Patients on the scheme can attend only designated GP practices, which have additional security measures.

A Freedom of Information request made by BBC News showed the clinical commissioning group area with the most people on the register is Birmingham and Solihull. A GP practice in West Yorkshire said rising levels of abuse meant staff had been given selfdefence training.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock last year announced a ‘zero tolerance’ policy aiming to reduce the number of assaults on NHS staff.