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.

We aim to treat our patients in a courteous and respectful manner at all times and in turn expect our patients to behave in a similar way. We take seriously any threatening, abusive or violent behaviour against any member of staff, administrative or clinical.

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 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
• Obtaining drugs and/or medical services fraudulently
• Persistent or unrealistic demands that cause stress to staff will not be accepted. Requests will be met wherever possible and explanations given when the request has been refused.
• Racial abuse and sexual harassment will not be tolerated within this practice
• Causing damage/stealing from the Practice’s premises, staff or patients