A DUNDEE doctor has decided to quit his practice after suffering years of abuse at the hands of young thugs.

Dr Mani Raj has spent the past 23 years working at Whitfield Health Centre, but decided to step down after the torment continually meted out to him and his staff became too much.

Dr Raj—who claimed he was physically attacked on the way to the local post office this week—said he had been touched by the reaction from local residents, but that it would not change his decision to resign.

“A lot of my patients are really quite upset, and even this morning I have had several phone calls from people who are feeling very bad that it has come to this.

“There is a point in life where you have got to take a decision for your own sake and for your family’s sake, and I can’t go on taking abuse and insults like I have done.

“We are doing a service to the community here, and for that we are having to put up with these sorts of insults.

“Ever since I started this practice I have been on the back foot.

“I feel very bad about it, as I feel I have let down a lot of the nice people in this area,” said Dr Raj.

A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said the authority was aware of the difficulties at the practice, and had been attempting to help the situation.

The spokesperson said, “We have tried our best to support Dr Raj, and are obviously disappointed the problems continue.

“It is a real concern that Dr Raj feels he can no longer practice as a GP because of attacks on him and his surgery.

“If Dr Raj does decide to retire from practice, his patients will be contacted individually with alternative arrangements.”

The health board said it was not aware of any other GPs who had complained of being in similar circumstances to Dr Raj in the course of the last year.

The Whitfield doctor— who has yet to formally hand in his notice—said it was up to NHS Tayside to decide whether a new GP should be sought for the practice or whether patients would be allocated to other practices nearby.

He said he was not sure what the future held for the four staff who currently work within Whitfield Health Centre.

North East councillor Willie Sawers—whose ward takes in the Whitfield estate —said Dr Raj’s decision raised significant issues.

He said, “If Dr Raj feels he is getting such hassle and intimidation that it has forced him to leave Whitfield, then I am very concerned about that and will discuss it with Tayside Police.

“I am aware of anti-social problems, but I wouldn’t say Whitfield was any better or worse than anywhere else in the city.”