Our staff at Cirencester Health Group have the right to work in a safe environment without the fear of violence, abuse, or harassment.

The practice recognises that there can be contributory reasons for patients behaving in difficult or challenging ways, however, where this tips over into aggression, intimidation or violence, the practice will adopt the NHS Zero Tolerance Policy.

The practice has the right to remove violent patients from our list with immediate effect, to safeguard practice staff, patients, and other persons.

Whilst it is not possible to list all types of incidents, some examples of unacceptable behaviour are provided below:

• Offensive language, verbal abuse and swearing
• Racist and hate comments
• Loud and intrusive conversation
• Unwanted or abusive remarks
• Negative, malicious, or stereotypical comments
• Carrying weapons or using objects as weapons
• Actual or threatened physical violence which may cause concern for safety.
• Intimidation
• Stalking
• Unreasonable behaviour and non-cooperation

This relates to any form of abuse from patients or staff which includes (but is not limited to) sexism, racism homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and ageism, or harassment or abuse on basis of disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion, or belief.

In these situations, we will notify the patient in writing of their removal from the list and record in the medical record their removal and the circumstances leading to it.

Patients being disruptive and displaying aggressive and/or intimidating behaviour will be asked to leave the premises and where they fail to do so the incident will be reported to the police.

You can find out more about the NHS’s approach to preventing abuse and violence towards staff through the Violence prevention and reduction standard which provides a risk-based framework that supports a safe and secure working environment for NHS staff, safeguarding them against abuse, aggression and violence.

This standard is backed up by the Violence against NHS staff: letter to the workforce.

Updated 18/11/2022.