DOCTORS and nurses all over Spain held a silent five-minute protest yesterday to express their disgust over the shooting of a young female GP in Moratalla (Murcia).

Patients and staff of hospitals and health centres stood on the steps of the buildings at noon to call for more protection for their safety.

Dr María Eugenia, 34, was shot in the head and chest by a 75-year-old retired taxi driver last week.

He had been due for an appointment with the victim at 19.00hrs, but did not turn up.

The attacker then burst into the emergency wing of Moratalla health centre at around midnight, firing shots at the doctor, who was working the night shift, and an ambulance driver.

Medics say the latter victim, 40, is in a stable condition.

Health workers all over the province of Murcia and even as far away as Pego (northern Alicante province) joined in Friday's protest.

Director of a Murcia health centre José Manuel Prieto says attacks and threats directed at staff are not isolated incidents and that his surgery, which treats 40,000 patients, has had security guards on duty for some months.