The peak NSW health body is calling for doctors to be awarded the same protections from aggressive patients as emergency workers.

In an amendment to the NSW crimes act last year, frontline emergency and health workers were given increased safeguards.

The new laws, which came into effect in October under the coalition government, meant patients could face up to 14 years behind bars for assaulting a frontline worker.

However, the NSW branch of the Australian Medical Association says doctors and GPs were not included in the protections.

"Practice staff are often more exposed to aggressive patients," AMA NSW president Michael Bonning said.

"I have been attacked in the workplace and so have many doctors I know - we need protection too."

Dr Bonning said the body had received multiple reports of aggression against doctors, as GP shortages continue to plague the system.

"These are interactions that often have really heightened stress associated with them," he said.

"Unfortunately, they also then often have aggression, assault and violence that occurs."

A federal government policy coming into effect this year which includes incentives for more after-hours GP practices could also mean an increased risk for doctors, Dr Bonning said.

In research conducted for the body last year involving 378 NSW medical practices, 88 per cent experienced verbal aggression from a patient while 37 per cent experienced physical aggression.

"If you overlook this group, it sends a message, this is the kind of legislation that (could) show a kind of disregard for the experience of clinicians in the community," Dr Bonning said.

"But it's a simple thing for the government to address."

The AMA has written to the NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley and is set to meet with incoming Labor health minister Ryan Parke next week.

Mr Parke told AAP aggression against any health worker was unacceptable and he was "making the safety of our health workforce a key priority", however changes to the legislation require approval from the attorney- general.

"I look forward to further discussions and working closely with the AMA in this space," he said in a statement.

Last month, 29-year-old paramedic Steven Trougher was killed on the job in Sydney's southwest, while an emergency department doctor was stabbed in Tasmania.