| Your rights and responsibilities
You have both rights and responsibilities when you come to our hospital. These relate to what you can reasonably expect from the hospital, its staff and the comfort and welfare of other patients.
Your rights
You have a right to:
- timely and courteous treatment,
- have your ethnic, cultural and religious practices and beliefs respected.
- refuse any investigations, treatment or surgery. However, if you choose to leave the hospital against medical advice, you will be asked to sign a disclaimer. The responsibility of your actions would rest entirely with you,
- receive information about the drugs you are receiving, their uses and anticipated side effects,
- know the names and professional status of any person providing you care,
- confidentiality of personal and medical information,
- refuse to be questioned or examined by students,
- nominate the person(s) and or next of kin to be notified, and provided you wish, they shall be promptly, reliably and courteously informed.
Your responsibilities
You have a responsibility:
- to actively participate in the planning of your after-discharge care.
- to provide the necessary information to your doctor and the hospital staff to enable them to provide the care or treatment necessary,
- to co-operate in the process of the provision of care and to report any changes in your condition to the nursing staff or your doctor,
- to show consideration for other patients and staff by observing the NO SMOKING rules,
- to co-operate in the process of the provision of care so that staff do not injure themselves whilst providing this care.
What you can expect
As a patient in a private hospital you can expect:
- your choice of doctor and access to hospital services at a time that best suits your needs.
From your doctor you can expect:
- an explanation of your clinical treatment and its risks before giving consent,
- advice on the likely costs of treatment and any out-of-pocket expenses,
- advice on seeking a second medical opinion,
- confidentiality of personal information,
- treatment with respect, dignity and compassion,
- advice on care after discharge,
- advice on making a complaint.
From your health fund you can expect:
- advice on the health cover available, insurance premiums, benefits and conditions of cover,
- advice on making a complaint about a private health insurance matter.
For more information, you can also consult the Private Patients Hospital Charter. The nurse can lend you a copy.
If you would like your own copy of the Charter, contact the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care on toll free 1800 676 296.
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