Introduction:
Barrington Medical Centre has a duty to provide a safe and secure environment for patients, staff and visitors. Violent or abusive behaviour will not be tolerated and decisive action will be taken to protect staff, patients and visitors.
This policy has been developed in the context of the government’s national Zero Tolerance initiative against violence in the NHS. The purpose of this policy is to address instances of unacceptable behaviour which may cause harm or the fear of harm to any person within the Practice. The scope of this policy is therefore:
Instances of violence or aggression committed by:-
- Any person, whether patient, visitor or any other person working within the Practice
Against:-
- Any patient, visitor, or other person working within the Practice
Policy Details:
Violence and aggression are defined as:-
- Violence is the use of force against a person and has the same definition as “assault” in law (i.e. an attempt, offer or application of force against the person). This would cover any person unlawfully touching any other person forcefully, spitting at another person, raising fists or feet or verbally threatening to strike or otherwise apply force to any person.
- Aggression is regarded as threatening or abusive language or gestures, sexual gestures or behaviour, derogatory sexual or racial remarks, shouting at any person or applying force to any Practice property or the personal property of any person on the Practice. This would cover people banging on desks or counters or a raising voice in an intimidating manner.
The following are examples of behaviour, which are not acceptable to the Practice:
- Excessive noise e.g., loud or intrusive conversation or shouting.
- Threatening or abusive language involving excessive swearing or offensive remarks.
- Persistent or unrealistic demands that cause stress to staff.
- Derogatory racial or sexual remarks.
- Malicious allegations relating to members of staff, other patients or visitors.
- Offensive sexual gestures or behaviours.
- Abusing alcohol or drugs (all medically identified substance abuse problems will be treated
- appropriately).
- Drug dealing.
- Wilful damage to Practice property.
- Threats of violent behaviour.
This policy applies throughout all Barrington Medical Centre premises, including any car park and grounds. It also applies to any employee or partner away from the Practice but only in so far as it relates to the business of the Practice.
All instances of violence and\or aggression will be documented on the patient’s medical record.
REMOVAL FROM THE PRACTICE LIST
The removal of patients from our list is an exceptional and rare event and is a last resort in an impaired patient-practice relationship. We value and respect good patient-doctor relationships based on mutual respect and trust. When trust has irretrievably broken down, the practice will consider all factors before removing a patient from their list and communicate to them that it is in the patient’s best interest that they should find a new practice. An exception to this is in the case of immediate removal on the grounds of violence e.g., when the Police are involved.
Removing other members of the household
Because of the possible need to visit patients at home, it may be necessary to terminate responsibility for other members of the family or the entire household to ensure the safety of practice staff.