A GP surgery is threatening to “blacklist” patients who continue to abuse staff after demanding to receive the Covid vaccine. 

Reception staff at the Kingswood Medical Centre, in Basildon, have been aggressively confronted by a host of patients since the vaccine roll-out began, it has been revealed.

Now, bosses have taken to Facebook to insist anyone who continues to be rude will face being removed from the practice list - in a “zero-tolerance” policy. 

Gavin Callaghan, leader of Basildon Council, slammed the “idiotic minority”, urging patients to “embrace the great British value of queuing.”

A spokesman for the surgery said: “A number of patients have been contacting the surgeries and quite abruptly demanding that they be vaccinated.

"Patients who contact the surgeries and continue to be aggressive/rude/unsavoury or inappropriate run the risk of being removed from the practice list.

“Contrary to popular belief, being abrupt to reception staff will not change your eligibility for the Covid vaccine.”

Read more:

Doctor surgery's warning after rude patients 'abruptly demand' to be given Covid jab

Supermarkets to be hit with 'fines' over abandoned trolleys across borough

This is how many people have had the Covid jab in south and mid Essex

Mr Callaghan added: “It doesn’t matter if it’s with the Covid vaccine or any health matter, people should not be abusing NHS staff.

“There will be enough for everyone, so they must wait their turn and be a bit more patient - especially with such staff who deserve our respect.”

The GP surgery bosses added the “surgery is not responsible for the number of vaccines” and called for patience.

They said: "Each day different clarifications are required. Sometimes a patient will call asking if they are eligible and the receptionist may not know. They may ask you to hold or even be called back later to make sure that you fall within the category. Please be patient as this is the correct process.

"The surgery is not responsible for the number of vaccines available or the type of vaccine that is delivered to the centre. If you are only interested in one particular vaccine then you may have to wait until this type of vaccine is delivered.

"The surgery is not responsible for the changes to the 12 week programme let alone the receptionist who is actively trying to ensure that patients do not attend a clinic where they will be sent away."

Trevor Harp, councillor responsible for health and adult social care in Southend, added: “Staff are under enough pressure and stress as it is, the last thing they need is unsympathetic behaviour.

"There is a priority list - there are lots of vulnerable people in front of myself, including frontline staff in care homes, police, teachers, nurses and doctors who are at risk every day.”