PATIENTS' RESPONSIBILITIES

You can help yourself and health service staff by doing the following:

• Be on time for appointments
• Tell us if you cannot keep an appointment
• Tell us if you move home or change telephone number
• Use emergency services responsibly
• Treat healthcare staff politely
• Pass on your comments to healthcare staff
• Take care with medicines. Do not use medicines which are out of date - your pharmacist can safely get rid of these for you
• Share responsibility for your own health
• Carry an organ donor card

PATIENTS' RIGHTS

Everyone has certain rights covered by the NHS Patient's Charter. You have the right to:

• Receive information on health services, including quality standards and waiting times
• Receive treatment regardless of your race, sex, age, disability or income
• Have your treatment explained to you
• Refuse to be treated in the prescence of students or to be involved in medical trials
• Have a relative or friend with you and
• Have access to an interpreter or signer

COMPLAINTS

If you have any complaints about the service at Whinpark Medical Centre please obtain a practice complaints procedure leaflet from our reception desk. Any comments you might have may be posted in the prescription box at the front desk or you can use the online form.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND HEALTH RECORDS

You have the right to see your health records and for them to be kept confidential. All staff at Whinpark Medical Centre are strictly bound by a duty of confidentiality towards patients and all patient-related information. Information should only be given to people involved in your care and only if you have given your permission. Information is only given without your permission in exceptional circumstances.

If you wish to see or obtain a copy of your information, you should contact the business manager or ask for a leaflet from the receptionists. They will explain how to access your record. There may be a charge involved. We are also registered with the Data Protection Register to safeguard all the information we hold.