Link to the NHSE Violence prevention and reduction programme
Norfolk & Waveney LMC supports a Zero Tolerance policy to abuse, and violence directed at General Practice and will support practices who are experiencing abuse and violence. Abusive, aggressive, or threatening behaviour includes verbal and other means (such as letters, emails, and social media postings). It also includes unacceptable use of language, such as swearing or inappropriate sexual references or actions.
One must remember each member of staff will have different tolerance levels and perceive threats in different ways, therefore when dealing with aggression and violence practices must consider how the actions of patients and stakeholders affect individual staff members and provide support to the staff that are affected.
Practices are reporting an increase in patients and stakeholders who exhibit habitually unacceptable violence, abuse and aggressive behaviour in general practice and handling this behaviour puts a huge strain on time and resources and causes unacceptable stress for staff.