Rights and Responsibilities

We always endeavour to fulfil your expectations to the very best of our abilities and as a practice we are committed to upholding patients' rights in line with the patients' charter. We also have a duty to ensure fair distribution of our limited resources across our community for which we need your help. Thus, in return for your rights, patients must accept their responsibilities.

You Have the Right

  • For a doctor to respond quickly in a medical emergency.
  • To an appointment on the same day if your medical condition is urgent.
  • To a visit if, for medical reasons only, you cannot get to the surgery.
  • To expect to be offered a routine appointment within 48 hours with a GP (except during holidays).
  • To expect to been seen within 30 minutes of your appointment time, or be given a reason for the delay and an estimate of its duration.
  • To confidentiality, courtesy and respect.
  • To have access to your health records, subject to the conditions in the Access to Health Records Act 1990.
  • To have complaints dealt with speedily and thoroughly.
  • To be informed if a complaint has been made against you and to have the opportunity to respond to allegations before action is taken.

Patient Responsibilities - How You Can Help Us

You Are Responsible For:

  • Your own health.
  • The consequences of ignoring health advice or failing to take prescribed medication.
  • Giving adequate information to allow decisions on where and how quickly you are seen.
  • Returning the courtesy and respect with which you are treated.
  • Not making unreasonable demands - they cause others to suffer by overstretching limited resources.
  • Keeping appointments - if possible cancel with adequate notice; allowing appointments to be wasted makes everyone wait longer for appointments.
  • Attending the surgery to be seen - a GP will visit you only if you are medically unfit to attend the surgery or housebound.
  • Showing patience if appointments are delayed when GPs are called out on emergencies, or the needs of other patients have required longer than the normal appointment time.
  • Giving sufficient notice for repeat prescriptions, medicals, travel vaccinations etc.
  • Paying any fees for non-NHS services provided to you.
  • Reading all the practice publication to help you to get the best out of what we offer.


 
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