Your Rights

Patient Information

All patients entering a HCA hospital are entitled to assume that they will enjoy the following rights:

To have their confidentiality respected by all staff.
To be addressed by their preference name/ title.
To be treated in an environment that preserves personal dignity and privacy and that contributes to positive self image.
To be treated with equality regarding their cultural and religious traditions.
To seek pastoral care or spiritual care.
To have a chaperone present during an intimate examination.
To seek a second opinion on diagnosis and treatment options.
To be given a clear explanation of their conditions and any treatment, investigations or procedures proposed, inducing risks and alternatives, before agreeing on a course of action to be taken and signing their consent form, if applicable.
To have their decisions about treatment and care respected.
To be informed in advance, where possible, of any change of the date and time of treatment/ operation.
To have access to their medical records and to have their medical records handled, in accordance with statutory requirements.
To choose whether or not they wish to be cared for by staff undertaking clinical training.
To seek protective services.
To seek information regarding their rights to make advance directives regarding treatment decisions, financial considerations and the designation of surrogate healthcare decisions makers.
To request an investigation of any complaints, both clinical and non- clinical under the HCA Complaints Policy.