Patients’ Rights and Responsibilities
Patients have the right to:
- Be registered with a General Practitioner.
- Change doctor if desired.
- Be offered a health check on joining the practice.
- Receive emergency care at any time from the practice.
- Receive appropriate drugs and medicines.
- Be referred for specialist for a second opinion if they and the GP agree.
- To view their medical records, subject to the Acts and to know that those working for the NHS are under legal obligation to keep the contents confidential.
- Receive a copy of the practice leaflet, setting out the services provided.
- Receive a full and prompt reply to any complaints about the services provided by the practice.
Patients also have a responsibility to:
- Be courteous to the staff at all times – remember they are working under doctors’ orders.
- Respond in a positive way to questions asked by the reception staff.
- Attend appointments on time or give the practice adequate notice that they wish to cancel. Someone else could use your appointment!
- An appointment is for one person only – where another member of the family needs to be seen or discussed, another appointment should be made.
- Be prepared to make further appointments if you have numerous or complicated problems.
- Patients should make every effort when consulting the surgery to make best use of nursing and medical time – home visits should be medically justifiable and not requested for social convenience.
- Be patient if appointment times are running late – please remember it may be you who needs extra time on another occasion.
- Patients are asked to give 48 hours’notice for repeat prescriptions to allow us to process your request correctly.
- Out-of-hours calls (e.g. evenings, nights and weekends) should only be requested if they are emergencies.
- Plan ahead when ordering repeat prescriptions and order well in advance as you do not want to have a break in your repeat medication.
- Carefully follow the treatment prescribed by your doctor.
- Turn your mobile telephone off before having your consultation with the doctor or nurse.
- If you wish to make constructive comments, suggestions or criticisms, please speak to our senior receptionist.