In order to be provided with Primary Medical Services, patients are expected to act in a manner that does not represent a threat to GPs, including their Practice staff, other patients and property. This document sets out the type of conduct that is expected of all patients registered with a General Practice. Patients are expected to behave in the following manner:
- To be polite and respectful towards all individuals and property
- Do not make threatening remarks to staff or patients at the practice
- To request urgent appointments only for genuine urgent conditions
- Attend surgery, when physically able to do so, rather than requesting a home visit
- Attend all appointments and on time
- Cancel any booked appointments that are no longer required
- Engage with the appropriate clinician for disease management e.g. diabetes, asthma, COPD and raised blood pressure
- Request repeat prescriptions in good time, ensuring that all items are ordered together rather than in individual lots
- Respect surgery premises and property
- Use the doctors time in an appropriate manner, e.g. do not attend surgery for minor ailments that can be self-treated, for example coughs, colds and minor aches and pains
If patients fail to comply with the above conditions, despite attempts by the surgery to engage with them and, if after a final written warning about their behaviour they continue to not comply, the surgery may deem this to be an irrevocable break down in practice / patient relations and may request that they are removed from the patient list.