It is our policy not to remove patients without serious consideration. If a patient has a serious continuing medical condition, removal will be postponed until the patient’s condition stabilises.
Possible grounds for consideration of removal include:
- Physical violence to staff, Doctors or other patients
- Threat of violence to staff, Doctors or other patients
- Abusive or disruptive behaviour including when under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Theft from the Surgery, staff, Doctors or other patients
- Criminal damage to the Surgery
- Dangerous dogs posing a real or potential hazard on home visits
- Altering documents e.g. prescriptions, insurance certificates
- Defamation of Doctors or staff
- Misuse of appointments
- Misuse of home visits
- Moving out of our catchment area (SE23, SE26 and parts of SE6)
- Any other breakdown of the bond of trust between Doctor and patient
It should be noted that if a patient does not attend for their appointment they will not be given another one for 48 hours. In the event of a patient not attending on three occasions they will receive a formal letter from the Practice Manager discussing potential repercussions of continued non-attendance.
In some cases we reserve the right to remove other members of the household. We will continue to be responsible for the patient’s medical care for a period of up to 8 days from the date of notification to our local health authority or until the patient registers with another Doctor, whichever is the sooner.