Zero Tolerance Policy

We support 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.

The whole team at Harborne Medical aims to be polite, helpful, and sensitive to all patients’ individual needs and circumstances. We understand that patients are suffering from a range of problems which can be upsetting and stressful. We know that people don’t always act in a reasonable manner when they are ill, and we take this into consideration. In return, we ask you to understand that staff are often dealing with many different tasks at the same time, and we thank you for your patience.

However, aggressive behaviour in any form will not be tolerated. This includes verbal abuse as well as physical violence. Unacceptable behaviour includes:

  • Using bad language or swearing at practice staff
  • Any physical violence towards practice staff or other patients, such as pushing or shoving
  • Verbal abuse towards the staff in any form
  • Racial abuse
  • Sexual harassment
  • Persistent or unrealistic demands that cause stress to staff
  • Damage or theft from the premises, staff or other patients
  • Obtaining drugs or medical services fraudulently

Removal from the practice list

A good patient-doctor relationship is based on mutual respect and trust. If this relationship breaks down, we will need to remove you from the practice list. We will give you notice that this is happening and you will need to register elsewhere. It is in your best interest, as well as that of the practice staff, to find a new practice if our relationship is no longer retrievable. In rare cases, we may need to remove you from our practice list immediately, for example if there has been violence and the police are involved.

Removing other members of the household

It may also be necessary to remove other members of the household from our list, due to the risks associated with needing to visit a patient at home, when a member of their household has been violent or threatening to practice staff.