A SENIOR doctor at one of Scotland's leading hospitals was allegedly assaulted by patients “under the influence of alcohol” the day after lockdown restrictions were eased.
Claire McGroaty, an accident and emergency consultant at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, said two alleged incidents occurred while she was at work on Saturday.
McGroaty, who is also a medical adviser for the hit TV show Outlander, posted some of the details on Twitter of what she said amounted to "a verbal and physical assault" by "patients under the influence of alcohol".
And she added: "This wasn’t acceptable pre-COVID, it definitely isn’t acceptable now."
Lockdown restrictions eased on Friday. On Saturday I was verbally and physically assaulted twice by patients under the influence of alcohol. This wasn’t acceptable pre-COVID, it definitely isn’t acceptable now.
— Claire McGroarty (@TraumaAnnie) May 31, 2020
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman responded to the doctor asking her to message for any support she needed.
Freeman said: "I am so very sorry this happened to you. Utterly unacceptable behaviour to anyone, all the more so to NHS or care staff. I hope you have support but if there is more you think we should do, please DM me."
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon warns of new lockdown laws after mass breaches
The incident provoked fury among the relatives of patients in other hospitals – with one saying such behaviour towards medics was not uncommon in his experience before the lockdown.
David Macluskey said: "Claire. I had the misfortune to spend three hours on a Tuesday night in RAH (Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley) A and E in February with my wee dad. That was exactly the picture. I felt ashamed to even be there."
The doctor responded: "It’s a small number of patients causing issues. We are generally a resilient bunch. However we are now in different times with difficult enough jobs without coping with violence and aggression. Never be ashamed to seek care from us David. It’s what we are here for.”
Police have said that one man was arrested and held custody for Glasgow Sheriff Court for assaults on emergency workers at QEUH.
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