Zero Tolerance Policy

The practice takes it very seriously if a member of staff or one of the dentists or nursing team is treated in an abusive or violent way.

The Practice supports the governments “Zero Tolerance” campaign for Health Service Staff. This states that staff have a right to care for others without fear of being attacked or abused. To successfully provide these services a mutual respect between all the staff and patients must be in place. All our staff aim to be polite, helpful and sensitive to all patients’ individual needs and circumstances. They would respectfully remind patients that very often staff could be confronted with a multitude of varying and sometimes difficult tasks and situations, all at the same time. The staff understand that patients in pain and anxious do not always act in a reasonable manner and will take this into consideration when trying to deal with a misunderstanding or complaint.

However, aggressive behaviour, be it violent or abusive, will not be tolerated and may result in you being removed from the Practice list.

In order for the practice to maintain good relations with their patients the practice would like to ask all its patients to read and take note of the occasional types of behaviour that would be found unacceptable:

• Using bad language and swearing at staff
• Any physical violence
• Verbal abuse
• Racial abuse
• Persistent or unrealistic demands that cause stress to staff
• Causing damage/stealing from the Practice’s premises, staff or patients

We ask that you always treat your dentist and their staff courteously.