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.

Woodlands Primary Care does not tolerate verbal or physical abuse. Verbally abusive patients will receive one warning letter; if the abuse continues, patients will be removed from the practice list.

Physically abusive patients will be removed from the practice list immediately. Staff both clinical and non-clinical should not have to experience verbal or physical abuse. In certain situations, the police may be called to remove a person(s) from the surgery.

Updated: 21st March 2024.