Your rights and responsibilities

Your rights

We are committed to giving you the best possible service. This will be achieved by working together.

Help us to help you. You have a right to, and the practice will try to ensure that:

  • You will be treated with courtesy and respect.
  • You will be treated as a partner in the care and attention that you receive.
  • All aspects of your visit will be dealt with in privacy and confidence.
  • You will be seen by a clinician of your choice, subject to availability.
  • In an emergency, out of normal opening hours, if you telephone the practice you will be given the number to receive assistance, which will require no more than one further call.
  • You can bring someone with you, however you may be asked to be seen on your own during the consultation. Visit our chaperones page to read more.
  • Repeat prescriptions will normally be available for collection within two working days of your request. Visit our prescriptions page where you will be able to find your nearest pharmacies, request or review your medication and register for electronic prescribing.
  • Information about our services on offer will be made available to you by way of news posts and newsletters on our site.
  • You have the right to see your medical records or have a copy subject to certain laws. Visit our Summary Care Records page to read more.

Your responsibilities

The NHS belongs to all of us. There are things that we can all do for ourselves and for one another to help it work effectively, and to ensure resources are used responsibly.

Therefore, we would respectfully request that you:

  • Our practice supports the NHS zero tolerance zone campaign. Please treat practice staff and other patients with the same consideration and courtesy you would like for yourself. Please understand that violence, or the causing of nuisance or disturbance on NHS premises, could result in prosecution.
  • Please recognise that you can make a significant contribution to your own, and your family’s, good health and wellbeing, and take personal responsibility for it.
  • Please provide accurate information about your health, condition and status.
  • Please participate in important public health programmes such as vaccinations.
  • Please request home visits before 10:30, where possible.
  • Please ensure that you order your repeat medication in plenty of time allowing 48 working hours.
  • Please ensure that you have a basic first aid kit at home and initiate minor illness and self-care for you and your family if you feel competent to do so.
  • Please attend any specialist appointments that have been arranged for you or cancel them if your condition has resolved or you no longer wish to attend.
  • Attend appointments on time, patients who are more than 10 minutes late for their appointment may not be seen.
  • If you are unable to make your appointment or no longer need it, please give the practice adequate notice that you wish to cancel your appointment.
  • An appointment is for one person only. Where another family member needs to be seen or discussed, another appointment should be made.
  • Patients should make every effort to present at the practice to ensure the best use of nursing and medical time. Home visits should be medically justifiable and not requested for social convenience.
  • Please inform us when you move home, change your name or telephone number, so that we can keep our records correct and up to date.
  • Read the practice news and other information that we give you. They are there to help you use our services. If you do not understand their content please tell us.
  • Let us have your views. Your ideas and suggestions whether complimentary or critical are important in helping us to provide a first class, safe, friendly service. If a family member or someone you are a carer for is a patient and unable to provide feedback, you are encouraged to give feedback about their experiences on their behalf.