"I’m here to help, not be hurt"
Carmel Medical Practice operates a zero tolerance policy to any abuse or bad behaviour towards its staff, doctors or other patients. This could be physical, verbal or online abuse.
NHS staff shouldn’t have to suffer violence or abuse just for doing their job. So we operate a zero tolerance policy on this type of behaviour. If you do abuse our staff you could face prosecution.
There are rising levels of abuse directed towards GP practice staff, including violent threats and verbal assaults. This is wholly unacceptable.
Please remember that staff working in general practice are doing their very best to help in very challenging times.
GPs and staff have a right to care for others without fear of being attacked, abused or treated badly in any way. To successfully provide our services a mutual respect between staff and patients has to be in place. All our staff aim to be polite, helpful, and sensitive to all patients’ individual needs and circumstances. We would respectfully remind patients that very often staff have to deal with a multitude of varying and sometimes difficult tasks and situations, all at the same time.
We will not tolerate aggressive behaviour, be it physical, verbal or online. Aggressive behaviour may result in you being removed from the practice list. In extreme cases we will contact the Police.
In order for the practice to maintain good relations with our patients we would like to ask all our patients to read and take note of the occasional types of behaviour we see that are unacceptable:
- Using bad language, shouting or raising of voices at practice staff.
- Any physical violence towards any member of our team or other patients.
- Verbal abuse towards staff or patients in any form including shouting.
- We will never tolerate racist, xenophobic, sexist, homophobic or other intolerant language, discrimination or sexual harassment.
- 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 be met.
- Being perceived to bully or manipulate a staff member to get something.
- Causing damage to, stealing or not returning practice equipment from the practice’s premises, staff or patients.
- Obtaining drugs and/or medical services fraudulently.