Rights and Responsibilities

We are committed to providing the highest standard of service and care to all patients.

We expect our staff to be considerate, courteous and respectful to our patients and their carers, and to each other.

As a patient, you have the right to receive care that is respectful, responsive, safe and effective.

You have the responsibility to provide all relevant health information to your doctor, and to treat our staff and other patients with respect.

Our responsibility to patients

We are committed to ensuring that patients are entitled to:

• Considerate and respectful care at all times and under all circumstances.
• Respect for their privacy and confidentiality.
• Care by competent staff who have skills and qualifications consistent with recognised standards, practices and ethics.
• Care in a clean, health-promoting environment.
• Impartial access to treatment or accommodation regardless of race, gender, age, sexual preference, marital status, intellectual or physical impairment and financial or health insurance status.
• Appropriate access for their disability.
• Full information about their medical condition, the treatment options and the likely effects of proposed treatments so that informed decisions can be made.
• A professional interpreter where needed.
• The right to refuse any investigation and/or treatment.
• The right to a second medical opinion, if this is requested.
• The right to choose whether or not to take part in research, clinical trials or student training.

Your responsibility as a patient

As a patient, you have a responsibility to:

• Provide accurate and complete information about your present medical conditions, medications and special needs.
• Provide information about any special needs you may have that are an important part of your culture or religion.
• Follow treatment instructions or let us know if you are unwilling or unable to do so.
• Advise our staff if you need to cancel your appointment.
• Consider the comfort and needs of other patients.
• Respect the role and dignity of our staff and their right to a safe and pleasant work environment.