Your rights and responsibilities

We believe in the NHS and we want to help strengthen it by providing services good enough for our family. In order to do this we think it’s important that you know what to expect and how to get the most out of our services.

When using our services, you have the right to:

• have someone with you during your appointment (if requested);
• be involved in decisions about your care;
• be seen by a male or female where it’s possible;
• refuse recommended treatment (within the law) and be informed of any consequences of your refusal;
• be given a second opinion if you ask for one;
• have your medical records treated in confidence; and
• know how to complain if you aren’t satisfied with the service.

This means you can expect:

• care to be provided in a safe setting;
• a caring, compassionate and non-discriminatory team;
• to be told the names of anyone involved in your care;
• access to sign language or translation services; and
• information on your diagnosis, treatment and results including information on any alternatives and risks to your treatment.

For us to provide you with a high quality services we ask that you:

• provide us with accurate details about you and your condition;
• ask us questions if you don’t understand;
• let us know if you’re trying alternative therapies or can’t follow prescribed treatment;
• treat everyone in the service with courtesy and respect;
• respect our staff’s right to have someone else present if it is considered appropriate;
• abide by the rules of the building you are in;
• are on time for your appointment;
• are considerate of those around you; and
• comply with the no smoking policy in all of our buildings.