GP locums have reported an increase in racist incidents in the last month after the British referendum vote to quit the EU.

The findings from a survey of GPs reflect other reports of an increasing rate of hate crimes since the vote.

Doctors reported evidence of patients refusing to see doctors of Asian origin.

Some 118 GPs took part in a survey and 47% said they had noticed more racism after the vote. Some doctors said they no longer felt safe on home visits.

Some 42% of the respondents were of south Asian origin and 22% white English.

One doctor reported: “On several occasions, I’ve had patients talk about my colleagues who are ethnically South Asian and ask if they will be going back home now after Brexit ‘as its obvious no-one wants foreigners here any more.’

“My response has always been that I am very grateful to work with such great colleagues, and that they are actually more British than I am.”

Dr Cherie Wong, who organised the survey, said: “GPs play an important role in local communities and are very public facing, so we were concerned that their welfare and safety would be affected by the current political climate.

“Unfortunately, the results show a disturbing trend that needs to be addressed. More measures need to be taken to educate and safeguard both practice staff and patients regarding discriminatory behaviour and how to deal with such confrontations.

“We feel it is unacceptable that many GPs, no matter their ethnic origin, are feeling persecuted and unsafe at work.”