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.  GPs and their staff have a right to care for others without fear of being attached or abused.  To successfully provide these services a mutual respect between all the staff and patients has to be in place. 

All our staff aim to be polite, helpful and sensitive to all patients' individual needs and circumstances.  We would respectfully remind patients that very often staff could be confronted with a multitude of varying and sometimes difficult tasks and situations, all at the same time.  The staff understand that 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 shall always show due respect and courtesy when dealing with patients and their representatives. We respectfully request that patients and their representatives do the same when dealing with members of the practice team.

No form of aggression will be tolerated - any instances of such behaviour on the practice premises may result in the perpetrator being reported to the Police and removed from the practice’s List of Registered Patients.  Please note that the following types of behaviours are unacceptable:

• Using bad language or swearing at practice staff
• Any physical violence towards any member of the Primary Health Care Team or other patients, such as pushing or shoving
• Verbal abuse towards the staff in any form including verbally insulting the staff
• Racial abuse and sexual harassment will not be tolerated within this practice
• Persistent or unrealistic demands that cause stress to staff will not be accepted. Requests will be met wherever possible and explanations given when they cannot
• Causing damage/stealing from the Practice's premises, staff or patients
• Obtaining drugs and/or medical services fraudulently

Should it be necessary, we will notify the patient in writing of their removal from the list and record in the patient’s medical records the fact of the removal and the circumstances leading to it.