Ending an Enrolment

Policy

Refer to MCNZ guidance on ending a doctor-patient relationship.

In some situations, we may end a patient's enrolment. This may be necessary to ensure the ongoing provision of quality care to the patient, or the safety of our staff.

Grounds for ending an enrolment include:

• A breakdown in the relationship between the patient and their clinician.
• Aggressive, disruptive, or inappropriate behaviour towards any team member.
• The practice is reducing in size, relocating, or closing.
• Fee-for-service/clawback deductions over the previous six months demonstrate that the patient's practice clinician is no longer their regular first-level healthcare provider.

We recognise that a patient's health status or anticipated need for health services are not reasons for ending their enrolment.

All terminations of service are done in a professional and fair manner, and in accordance with the MCNZ policy. We provide:

• an explanation for ending the relationship
• reasonable notice
• the opportunity to respond to the notice of termination
• support for accessing alternative healthcare.

Guidelines to ending a patient's enrolment

• Consider the impact that your decision may have on the patient and their family/whānau, such as limiting access to healthcare.
• Evaluate how this will affect the patient’s treatment, whether it is ongoing, acute, or incomplete, and arrange to transfer their care to another clinician if necessary.
• Decide on the most appropriate and culturally sensitive approach to concluding the treating relationship.
• Seek advice if not sure.
• Provide a clear explanation of your concerns or reason for ending the relationship. Use discretion as to whether this should be communicated in person or in writing.

Aggressive patients, violent patients, abusive patients

Ending an enrolment resources

Enrolment Termination Letter