The Practice takes it very seriously if a member of staff is treated in an abusive or violent way.
The Practice supports the government’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ campaign for Health Service Staff. This
states that GPs and their staff have a right to care for others without fear of being attacked or
abused. To successfully provide these services a mutual respect between all the staff and patients
has to be in place.
Our Practice staff aim to be polite, helpful, and sensitive to all patients’ individual needs and
circumstances. They 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
staffs 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.
However, aggressive 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 order for the practice to maintain good relations with their patients the practice would like to ask
all its patients to read and take note of the occasional types of behaviour that would be found
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
- We ask you to treat your GPs and their staff courteously at all times