Rights & Responsibilities

Appointments

Please attend the surgery in good time for your appointment.
If you are delayed for any reason please inform the practice.
Do not ask the doctor to see more than one person at an appointment unless by prior arrangement.
Give the surgery plenty of notice if you wish to cancel an appointment.
If you don’t attend or give us notice that you cannot make the appointment on three occasions, we may ask you to find another doctor.
Be prepared to give details of the ailment when requesting an urgent appointment.

Home visits

Prescriptions

Order prescriptions early enough so you don’t run out of medication. Please make requests for repeat prescriptions more than two working days before they are required.
For patients with a hearing impairment who cannot use the telephone for ordering their prescriptions, there is a fax number that can be used if that is more convenient.
Please bring in the attached ( white) prescription form, with a tick against medicines required.

Please notify the practice of any changes in relevant personal details such as change of name, address, telephone number.
Please be courteous to all of the staff. Patients who fail to be courteous will be requested to find another doctor. Staff are trained to help and have patient interests at heart.
Be patient if the surgery is busy, patients are attended to in order of appointment and as soon as possible - remember someone may be enduring trauma if the surgery is running late or an emergency is "slotted in".
Be considerate of other patients.
Ensure that children are supervised at all times.
Do not bring animals (except guide dogs) into the building.
Do not smoke in the building.

Right to a GP: People who are ordinarily resident in the UK, including people from other EEA countries and abroad, have the right to be registered with a GP. You can choose which GP you want to be registered with
Treatment from a GP: You are entitled to treatment from a GP at the surgery where you are registered. You have no automatic right, however, to see your own GP. A GP must provide any treatment which is immediately necessary in an emergency, even if you are not registered with them.
Changing a GP: You can change your GP at any time you wish without having to give a reason. If you tell the Primary Care Trust that you want to change your GP, the PCT must give you details of how to do so and provide you with a list of alternative GPs. You do not need the consent of your GP to change GPs.
Right to hospital treatment: You cannot receive NHS hospital treatment without being referred by your GP, unless you are attending a special clinic, for example, for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, or you need urgent medical attention in an emergency.
Seeing a consultant: You have the right to choose your hospital and consultant. Your GP cannot insist that you see a particular consultant or doctor. You do have the right to see a doctor competent to deal with your case.

Your Doctor’s Responsibilities

To treat you with courtesy and respect at all times
To treat you as an individual and to discuss with you the care and treatment we can provide.
To give you full information on the services we offer.
To give you the most appropriate care by suitably qualified staff.
To provide you with emergency care when you need it.
To refer you to a consultant acceptable to you when necessary.
To give you access to your health records, subject to any limitations in the law.
To give you absolute confidentiality and privacy.