GPs will not take action that jeopardises patient care, according to their leader as the profession approaches a decision on how to respond to controversial government plans.

Speaking last night, outgoing BMA GP committee chair Dr Richard Vautrey spoke of the widespread “abuse” of GPs and their staff, from the public and from some politicians. He attacked government ministers as “hypocritical” for advocating the use of video consultations before the pandemic – and then criticising practices for switching to remote consultation during the pandemic. The previous Health Secretary Matt Hancock was an active advocate of video consultation, keeping his own account with a private company.

Dr Vautrey resigned as chair of the GP committee following the decision to ballot on “industrial action”. The ballot concluded on Sunday. Speaking to The Guardian in his first interview after his resignation, he set out the pressures on practices.

He said: “We’ve gone from the clapping and support of the general public to the huge criticisms of, and unacceptable abuse that’s been levelled at, GPs and their teams both from certain sections of the media but also fuelled by government comments and NHS England comments, which have been completely unacceptable. Both the secretary of state and NHS England overtly supported the campaigning of some sections of the media. And that then fuelled the anti-GP rhetoric, not just nationally, but also locally.

“Our reception staff particularly have been on the end of almost daily abuse from individuals calling them, understandably frustrated that they’re waiting for an appointment or waiting for a procedure – and not been able to get exactly what they want. But, nevertheless, that national tone has then led to our practices being under fire.”

He said staff had been “subjected to physical abuse as well as verbal abuse – this is unacceptable and yet we’ve not seen the government call that out and take it seriously”.

Speaking of the government’s recent controversial “rescue plan” for general practice, he said: “There were no negotiations. We were presented with a fait accompli. We were ignored.” He added: “There’s been attempts to distract from the almost weekly headlines now the pressure that the NHS is under. And so often it’s GPs who are blamed for that, completely wrongly. It’s distracting from their failings. GPs are being blamed for things which are out of their control. We need proper support, additional staff and better premises. The government aren’t showing signs of addressing that properly and yet are all too quick to blame GPs for failings which are theirs, not the profession’s.”