Anti-Social Behaviour Triggers Police Call-Out To Cinderford Practice
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- Published: Wednesday, 27 July 2022 08:01
- Written by Guy Tuggle
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Anti-Social Behaviour (‘ASB’) is no stranger to providers of healthcare. Encompassing patients who are rude and fractious to downright aggressive, most dentists or their teams will have encountered it and in some locations, not just as rare, isolated incidents.
In fact, so endemic is ASB in healthcare settings, that many A&E departments routinely employ security guards to keep staff and patients safe from violent and abusive patients.
But when ASB strikes at a normally tranquil market town in the heart of the Forest of Dean, it can be alarming, especially when the perpetrators are not anxious or fretful patients, but youths targeting the practice for kicks.
Staff at the Cinderford, Gloucestershire, branch of my dentist resorted to calling for police assistance after three boys started kicking a football at patients, swearing at staff and refusing to leave the premises when asked to do so.
Local media Punchline reported that the police knew two of the boys responsible and, when the three were apprehended, they confessed to their involvement.
To atone for their yobbish behaviour, the boys were instructed to write letters of apology and just over a week later the police accompanied all three to the practice to apologise ‘in person’.
Do You Have Experience Of ASB?
Has your practice been subject to anti-social behaviour? How did you respond to it?
Low level ASB can be enormously upsetting whilst more aggressive ASB is traumatic for staff and patients alike. Both are disruptive and have cost society once the police are involved.
Please share your experiences and any lessons learned via our Forum.
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