R ight from the start of the pandemic we have asked our patients to put on a mask or face covering before entering our surgery. Most are already wearing one when they arrive, and the vast majority who are not are more than happy to comply, but every so often all hell breaks loose and our receptionists face a barrage of abuse. It’s a scene that I imagine is replicated all too frequently in NHS settings, shops, pubs and other businesses around the country.

While some people are exempt on medical grounds, I struggle to understand why a simple request to don a face covering angers so many others, and my heart goes out to teachers this week who are likely to be on the receiving

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