Commenting on Department of Health statistics showing over 72,000 attacks on health service staff over the past five years, Dr Alan Stout, chair of BMA’s Northern Ireland Council, said: “These figures are very concerning, but perhaps more so because the actual numbers are underreported as they do not count attacks on GPs and their staff. The health service is under extreme pressure every single day and this results in doctors and health care staff being stretched to the limit. One of the unacceptable consequences of this is stressed patients taking their frustrations out on staff. It is vital that doctors are allowed to work within safe limits and provide a safe service. The service delivery issues that result from failure to adequately plan long-term for proper commissioning and service delivery cannot be allowed to be taken out on doctors or on staff.”