Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Patients’ rights to General Medical Services

• To be registered with a General Practitioner

• Change doctor if desired

• Be offered a health check on joining the practice

• Receive emergency care as deemed appropriate by GP

• Receive appropriate drugs and medicine

• Be referred for specialist or second opinion if they and GP agrees

• Have the right to view their medical records, subject to the Acts   and to know that those working for the NHS are under legal obligation to keep the contents confidential.

With these rights come responsibilities and for the patients this means

• Courtesy to the staff at all times – remember they are working under doctors’ orders.

• To attend appointments on time or give the practice adequate notice that they wish to cancel.  Someone else could use your appointment!

• An appointment is for one person only – where another member of the family needs to be seen, another appointment should be made and the medical record made available.

• Patients should make every effort when consulting the surgery to make best use of nursing and medical time – home visits should be medically justifiable and not requested for social convenience.

• When patients are asked to give 48 hours notice for repeat  prescriptions, please give us this time as it to allow for accurate prescribing.

• Out of hours calls – should only be requested if they are felt to be truly necessary.