Patient rights and responsibilities: charter

Introduction

The Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 24 February 2011, and received Royal Assent on 31 March 2011.

The Act gives all patients the right that the health care they receive will:

• consider their needs,
• consider what would most benefit their health and wellbeing, and
• encourage them to take part in decisions about their health and wellbeing, and provide them with the information and support to do so.

It also gives patients a right to give feedback or comments, or raise concerns or complaints about the care they have received from the NHS in Scotland.

The Act requires Scottish Ministers to publish a Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities. The Act introduced some new rights for patients, but there are also existing rights. The Charter summarises the rights and responsibilities of patients using the NHS in Scotland, and of people who have a personal interest in such patients' health care.

What the Charter does

This Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities (the 'Charter') sets out a summary of your rights and responsibilities, and what you can expect when you use NHS services and receive NHS care in Scotland. It does not create new rights or responsibilities or change those that already exist.

The Charter also tells you what you can do if you feel that your rights have not been respected.

Some of your responsibilities when using the NHS in Scotland are set out in law. Others are what everyone is expected to do to help the NHS work effectively in Scotland, and to help make sure its resources are used responsibly.