Suicidal Patients
SUICIDAL or AGGRESSIVE PATIENTS
Very rarely, patients with significant depression, mental illness or aggressive/anti-social behaviour will threaten either violence or suicide over the phone. In these cases, it is often best to let the patient talk, but you'll need to take other steps at the same time:
1. In whatever way you can, notify another staff member to contact emergency services (000)
to have them on standby. This other staff member should also contact the patient's regular GP
(if they are on-site, otherwise send an SMS and inform them of the situation). The patient's usual doctor will take over the conversation ASAP.
2. An Accident/Incident report will need to be completed ASAP by yourself:
