GETTY Professors claim 'sinister' banter is stripping patients of their dignity

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They claim banter in medical schools is contributing to a shortfall of family doctors across the country, while mental health issues aren't being taken seriously enough. Psychiatrists and GPs are being "systematically denigrated" in medical schools across the country, according to Professor Maureen Baker, the chairman of the Royal College of GPs, and Professor Sir Simon Wessely, the President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. They claim "sinister" banter is stripping some patients of their dignity and, ultimately, risking their safety. Professor Wessely said: "It's not that we can't take a joke, but often, the 'banter' directed at psychiatrists isn't a joke on us, it's a joke on our patients and that isn't acceptable.

PH 'It's not that we can't take a joke,' says Professor Wessely

It's so frustrating when we know that the things people are saying about general practice are simply untrue Professor Maureen Baker

"People with mental disorders - just like those with physical disorders - deserve the best minds to find new treatments and provide the best care and this behaviour flies in the face of everything we are doing across the health service, and society, to give our patients with mental health parity of esteem to those with physical health problems. "We're not - and shouldn't be - calling for any form of censorship or an outright ban on banter. That wouldn't work; there is nothing worse than creating a learning environment where people are afraid to speak their mind. "But the sinister form this so called banter takes needs to stop - it's about fostering respect, between healthcare professionals for the specific roles we each bring to medicine, but also for our patients, whatever condition they present with." Prof Baker said rude banter about working as a GP had not changed in 20 years. She said: "It's so frustrating when we know that the things people are saying about general practice are simply untrue.

PH Prof Baker said rude banter about working as a GP had not changed in 20 years