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Patient Rights & Responsibilities

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Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Policy Statement:

All patients attending the Service shall be informed of their rights and responsibilities in respect to their own care and treatment and their relationship to other patients, staff and visitors.  

Your Rights:

  • Privacy and confidentiality at all times and in all aspects of care.
  • Have the right to be treated in an humane manner, with considerate and respectful care in an atmosphere of privacy.
  • Be treated with care and skill.  To receive services that reflect your individual needs regardless of social status, sex, religion, or political belief.
  • Be informed about the health care system and facilities available for your specific requirements.
  • Participate in decisions that affect your wellbeing.
  • Receive available information and ask questions about your medical condition in a language that you readily understand.
  • Seek the assistance of an interpreter service.
  • Request a review of treatment or services.
  • Seek a second opinion about your medical condition.
  • Be informed about the costs of your care and possible fees before admission.
  • The right to know about the identity and professional status and qualifications of those providing health services.
  • Information through the Freedom of Information process.
  • Accept or refuse student involvement in your treatment.
  • Be informed about hospital and other support services.
  • Refuse any treatment or services with which you are not comfortable.
  • Refuse to be attended by a particular member of the health team.
  • Have the right to have a relative or close friend remain during hospitalisation.
  • Nominate an advocate of your choice.
  • Have the right to question or lodge a complaint concerning your treatment, or care without any adverse effect on any future treatment.
  • The right not to be subjected to any procedure or treatment without an adequate explanation of what is involved.
  • The right to die with dignity.

Your Responsibilities:

  • Provide to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about your current medical problems, previous illnesses, medications, visits to hospital, allergies and other matters relating to your state of health in order to help our staff care for you.
  • Ask questions about your treatment.
  • Respect property belonging to other persons and the Service.
  • Respect the wellbeing and rights of other patients and staff, and ask your visitors to do the same.
  • Inform staff of any change to your health condition while in hospital.
  • Be responsible and accept the consequences for your choices.

  

IF YOU WISH TO MAKE A COMPLAINT

 If you have a complaint about our Service or the care you are receiving, please let us know.  You can contact the Senior Nurse on duty, or Mrs Melanie Albrecht, Operations Manager, telephone (03) 5391 4224.

Complaint forms are available from Reception at each facility.  Once completed, they should be sent to the Operations Manager at Nhill for investigation.

You may also contact the Office of the Health Services Commissioner, an independent government funded authority.  It has the power to investigate complaints and assist in resolving disputes.  The Office of the Health Services Commissioner can be contacted on:

Free Call 1800 136 066

 

Link: Public Hospital Patient Charter brochure