The practice fully supports the NHS Zero Tolerance Policy. The aim of this policy is to tackle the increasing problem of violence against staff working in the NHS and ensures that doctors and their staff have a right to care for others without fear of being attacked or abused.
We understand that ill patients do not always act in a reasonable manner and will take this into consideration when trying to deal with a misunderstanding or complaint. We ask you to treat your doctors and their staff courteously and act reasonably.
However, aggresive behaviour, be it violent or abusive, will not be tolerated and may result in you being removed from the Practice list and, in extreme cases, the Police being contacted.
In summary, we will not hesitate to remove patients from our list who:
- are violent or abusive to any Practice member.
- use or condone threatening or violent behaviour.
- cause damage/steal from the Practice’s premises/staff/patients.
- obtain drugs and/or medical services fraudulently.
We ask you to treat your GPs and their staff courteously at all times.
All incidents will be followed up and you will be sent a formal warning after a second incident or removed from the practice list after a third incident if your behaviour has been unreasonable.
However, aggressive behaviour, be it violent or verbal abusive, will not be tolerated and may result in you being removed from the Practice list and, in extreme cases, the Police will be contacted if an incident is taking place and the patient is posing a threat to staff or other patients.
The Practice takes it very seriously if a member of staff or one of the doctors or nursing team is treated in an abusive or violent way.