Patients’ Rights to General Medical Services
As a patient you have the right to:
- Be registered with a GP.
- Change doctor easily and quickly.
- Be offered a health check on joining the practice.
- Receive emergency care at any time through a GP.
- Receive health care on the basis of clinical need regardless of ability to pay.
- Be given a clear explanation of any treatment proposed, including any visits and any alternatives, before you decide whether you will agree to treatment.
- Have appropriate drugs and medicines prescribed.
- Be referred to a consultant acceptable to you when the GP thinks it is necessary and be referred for a second opinion if you and the GP agree this is desirable.
- Have access to your medical records, subject to any limitations in the law, and know that those working for the NHS are under a legal duty to keep the contents confidential.
- Choose whether or not to take part in medical research or medical student training.
- Request a yearly health check if you are 75 years or over.
- Be given detailed information about local family doctor services through your Health Board’s local directory.
- Receive a copy of the practice booklet, setting out the services provided.
- Receive a full and prompt reply to any complaints about the services provided by the practice.
Help Us to Help You
As a patient of this practice we expect you to:
- Treat the doctors and practice staff with courtesy.
- Be punctual for appointments.
- Give the practice as much notice as possible if you are unable to keep your appointment.
- Make more than one appointment if more than one person needs to be seen.
- Be prepared to make further appointments if you have numerous or complicated problems.
- Be patients if appointment times are running late – please remember it may be you who needs extra time on another occasion.
- Ask for a home visit only if illness prevents you attending the surgery – children can usually be brought safely to the surgery.
- Contact the doctor out of surgery hours only in the case of an emergency, which cannot wait until the next working day.
- Be prepared to see another doctor in the practice when your own doctor is unavailable.
- Plan ahead when ordering repeat prescriptions and always use the special repeat prescription number 9447 1018. This number leaves the other lines free for emergencies, appointments, and enquires.
- Carefully follow the treatment prescribed by your doctor.
- If you wish to make constructive comments, suggestions or criticism, please contact the manager or leave comments in the suggestion box in reception.