Patient removals. Sitting pretty.

A survey of GPs in Newcastle and North Tyneside found most respondents removed fewer than three patients a year from their lists. Most practices did not have a policy on removals. More than three-quarters of removals were for violence, rudeness or anti-social behaviour. The survey suggests that practices should keep a record of violent incidents and that a facilitator should be made available to help practices with patients who are repeatedly violent.