A PATIENTS’ group is warning fellow users of a doctors’ surgery that ongoing verbal abuse being directed at receptionists is unacceptable.

The Lister House Patient Group, part of Lister House Surgery which has branches in Wiveliscombe and Milverton, said receptionists had been receiving verbal abuse in the surgery and around town from some patients – and some had even called at a receptionist’s home to try and book an appointment.

“The Patients’ Group have been most disturbed to learn that the receptionists have been subjected to a considerable amount of verbal abuse,” said chairman Peter Berman in a letter sent out to all patients and also placed on the surgery’s reception desk.

“We find this totally unacceptable and indeed we would support any steps the practice took to suggest to abusive patients that they might want to find another surgery.”

The warning comes after a previous patients’ newsletter in the spring said verbal abuse and swearing at staff had increased markedly over the last few months, both face-to-face and over the phone.