ITV Lorraine star says 'it has to stop' after doctor son is threatened with knife

Lorraine star Dr Hilary Jones argued "It has to stop", after his doctor son was threatened with a knife.

Dr Hilary appeared on the ITV morning programme on Monday (August 11), where he spoke to host Ranvir Singh about his son's terrifying ordeal.

"You've spoken in an interview with a newspaper about something that happened to your son, who is a GP. Not recently, but it's, obviously, for any father, what happened to your son as a GP was terrifying," Ranvir began.

Dr Hilary replied: "So, he's conducting a GP surgery and a patient leans over the desk brandishing a knife, threatening him with a knife."

The doctor then reassured viewers, saying: "He dealt with it really well, he's fine."

He continued: "But this is not an isolated incident. One in six NHS workers in England have been abused physically, attacked physically. One in three ambulance staff, ten percent of nurses have been sexually harassed by visitors or patients.

"It's something that has to stop. It's basically an abuse of the NHS. In 1948, when the NHS was created, everyone was so in love with it and so grateful.

"This never happened, but now it's as if people go, 'We can just abuse those staff. They're here at our bequest and will do anything that we want them to do, and we can threaten them if they don't do it.'"

Dr Hilary went on to say that doctors need "more protection" and "better reporting systems" to keep them safe at work.

The news comes after Dr Hilary returned to Lorraine last week after having a hip replacement five weeks before.

Speaking to host Christine Lampard, the ITV star confirmed: "I'm feeling great! It's such a good operation, and I think people tend to leave it too long.

"They're in a lot of pain for a long time with limited mobility, which means that their muscles become weaker. So, rehabilitation takes longer. I was really lucky to have this done on the NHS. Wonderful treatment."

He added: "I was up [the same evening], was doing stairs the next day and then home the next day.

"I did my rehab like a good patient, like a good doctor should be, and I'm all singing and all dancing again."

Lorraine airs weekdays on ITV1 at 9am