Rights and Responsibilities

Your Rights

As a NHS patient you are entitled:

• To receive general medical care from a GP on the basis of a clinical need and regardless of ability to pay.
• To change your doctor if you want, quickly and easily.
• To receive emergency medical care.
• To be treated under the NHS by a GP if you are away from home.
• To be treated by another GP in the practice if your own is not available.
• To be offered a health check when first registering with a GP.
• To request a health check if you haven’t seen a GP in more than three years
• To be offered a yearly health check if you are over 75, carried out at the surgery or at home.
• To have appropriate medicines and appliances prescribed when necessary.
• To be referred to a consultant or specialist when your GP thinks necessary and be referred for a second opinion if you and your doctor agree it is desirable.
• To be assured of confidentiality in all contacts with your GP and practice staff.
• To receive, free of charge, certificates for statutory sick pay for illness lasting more than six days and other statutory certificates where appropriate.
• To have clearly explained the diagnosis, proposed treatment, major risks and any alternatives.
• To receive a home visit at any time if your doctor feels it is necessary.
• To have access to your health records held on computer or hand written, subject to any limitations in law.
• To receive an up-to-date information booklet.
• To choose whether or not to take part in medical research and medical student training.
• To choose to be registered with a doctor who provides contraceptive and maternity services. A patient may choose her own or any doctor that provides these services.
• Where appropriate, to receive invitations for cervical screening.
• To receive appropriate childhood vaccinations and immunisations.
• To receive an invitation for free breast screening if you are a woman aged between 50 and 64 years old.
• To receive advice about health, diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol, drugs and solvent abuse.
• To have a complaint about any NHS service investigated and to receive a full and prompt written reply from the Chief Executive of the relevant Health Authority.
• To see any medical report written about you for the purposes of insurance or employment.

Your Responsibilities

• By leading a healthy lifestyle and therefore minimising health risks, you will be helping not only yourself but also your doctor.
• Please try to attend appointments on time. If you have to change or cancel an appointment, tell the practice as soon as possible.
• Please be patient if your appointment is delayed. Delays are often caused by patients needing emergency attention.
• Requests for repeat prescriptions should be made to reception, in plenty of time to avoid unnecessary delay in treatment.
• Prepare for your doctor, talk to him and give him as much information as possible. It might help to make a note of symptoms before the consultations so you don’t forget anything.
• Whilst privacy is at all times respected, reception staff may need further details about a visit or appointment to help doctors assess the degree of urgency.
• Be sure to notify your doctor promptly of any change of address or family details such as marriage.
• Home visits should be regarded as a service for the genuinely housebound or seriously ill. Requests for home visits should be made before 11.00am wherever possible.
• If you are in any doubt about the seriousness of an illness, or whether you or a member of your family need a home visit, telephone your doctor for advice.