A father is furious that he and his family have been barred from all NHS surgeries for a year following an altercation with a doctor on Monday.
James Jewell, 35, of Marlow Avenue in Luton, was upset that the doctor at Gardenia Avenue Surgery would not look at his 10-month-old son’s head during an appointment.
Police were called to the surgery at about 10.30am, but say the patient had calmed down and was leaving.
Mr Jewell said: “The way they have been treating my children is disgusting. The doctor refused to even look at my son’s head even though that was what we had made the appointment for, so I got upset but I wasn’t aggressive. When the police arrived I was queuing up at reception to fill in a complaint form.”
Mr Jewell received a letter from the NHS the following day informing him he and his family are all barred.
He said: “My priority is my kids’ health and now they have all been barred from the surgery, even my five-year-old daughter who was at school at the time. I am really worried about my little boy.”
Mr Jewell had a bad experience with the surgery previously as he says his daughter, three, was rushed to hospital two months ago seriously ill, despite doctors saying she was healthy.
He is on medication and needs to pick up tablets from the surgery or his own health will deteriorate.
An NHS spokesperson said: “Hertfordshire and South Midlands Area Team of NHS England is unable to comment on specific cases, but can confirm that under the terms of GP General Medical Services contract. GP Practices are entitled to request the removal of a patient who is considered by the practice, to have had a breakdown in the doctor/patient relationship as a result of violent, threatening or abusive behaviour.
“When an incident of that nature occurs practices notify NHS England who then review and make arrangements to ensure patients have continued access to primary medical services. If appropriate the patient will be allocated to the safe patient treatment scheme for a period of at least 12 months. At which point their case is reviewed and if appropriate their care returned to mainstream general practice.”