The NHS operate a zero tolerance policy with regard to violence, harassment and abuse and the practice has the right to remove 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. In this situation 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.
Rights & Responsibilities
As a patient you have certain rights and responsibilities:
Rights
- To use the NHS and to be treated equally no matter what your income, race, sex, age, sexuality or disability.
Responsibilities
- Be on time for appointments and tell the practice if you cannot keep your appointment.
- Treat practice staff politely and with respect. Violence or racial, sexual or verbal abuse is completely unacceptable and may lead to removal from our list.
- Follow the advice and treatment you receive.
- Make sure the practice has up to date information on how to contact you.
- Try to take any medicine, which is prescribed and finish the course of treatment. Do not take medicine, which is out of date, and give old medicine to your pharmacist to get rid of.
- Only use emergency appointments in matters of real urgency.
- Look after your own health and think about how you could have a healthier lifestyle.