Zero Tolerance

The NHS operate a zero tolerance policy with regard to violence and abuse and the practice has the right to remove violent patients from the list with immediate effect in order to safeguard practice staff, patients and other persons. Violence in this context includes actual or threatened physical violence or verbal abuse which leads to fear for a person’s safety.

We expect our patients to respect our staff, our property, and other users of the Surgery. We reserve the right to remove patients from our list in the following circumstances:

• Violence or abusive behaviour towards our staff or other users of the Surgery.
• Failure to take due care of the Surgery or its contents.
• Repeated failure to attend appointments without making a proper cancellation.
• Following an irreversible breakdown of the doctor / patient relationship

In most cases, we will first send a warning letter to the patient so that the cause for concern can be addressed. However, no warning will be given where the safety of staff or other users of the Surgery is considered at risk. Violent or abusive patients may be placed on the Safe Treatment Register.