There may be circumstances when it would be considered reasonable, or in the best interests of the patient or practice staff, to remove patients from our list. This section gives a summary of the practice guidelines for removal of a patient from the practice list, and how to ensure that any concerns about removing patients from the practice list are dealt with and considered fairly. A copy of the policy is available upon request.
As a practice we have a zero-tolerance stance towards violent and/or abusive patients, and a patient will be removed from the practice list without warning if they have displayed violent, abusive or threatening behaviour towards any member of the practice team or other patient within the medical facilities. Violent, abusive or threatening behaviour includes face-to-face, over the phone and electronic communication such as by email or social media. Patients can also be removed from the practice list if it is proved that they have engaged in fraud or deception to obtain services or medication.
There are other reasons where a patient may be removed from the practice list, but a letter will be sent to the patient in advance. This includes, but is not limited to:
- A patient moving outside of the practice boundary (our current practice boundary is visible here)
- Where a patient has moved abroad for a period of 3 months or longer
- Repeated failure to attend pre-booked appointment on a number of occasions
- Irretrievable breakdown of the Doctor/Nurse-patient relationship
- Where a patient’s behaviour falls outside of that which is normally considered reasonable and leads to an irretrievable breakdown of the doctor/nurse-patient relationship
- Unnecessarily persistent or unrealistic service demands that cause disruption
In cases where immediate removal is not appropriate, following the issue of a warning letter, every effort will be made to reach a mutually satisfactory solution before any final decision is made to remove the patient from the practice list.