It is with regret that we have to publish the statement below:

Southmead Surgery is committed to doing everything possible to protect staff, patients and visitors from unacceptable behaviour, and has a ‘zero tolerance’ attitude of any incident that causes hurt, alarm, or distress.

Our practice staff are here to help you. Shouting or swearing or use of abusive or offensive language at practice staff will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Patients who are abusive will be removed from the practice list and will have to register with another GP Practice.

Furthermore, the practice will not hesitate to take legal action or inform the police whenever it is appropriate to do so.

The whole of the NHS, and especially GP surgeries are working under unprecedented levels of patient demand and expectation. We hope that patients will agree that our staff are our most valuable asset, and that verbal abuse or aggression is unacceptable.

Thank you very much in anticipation of your understanding.