Patient Charter

The Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 supports the Scottish Governments vision for a high quality, person-centred NHS. The Act applies to every member of staff working for NHS Scotland, and for all independent contractors and their staff who provide NHS services.

HealthCare Principles

The Act states that everyone involved in the delivery of NHS services in Scotland, and their employers, must uphold a set of Healthcare Principles that underpin quality care and treatment. Providers fo NHS services throughout the country practice these principles every day, and now the Act sets them out in law.

The Principles Cover:

Patient Focus

Each patient’s needs, circumstances, opinions and abilities must be taken into account when they receive healthcare. Privacy and confidentiality should be respected and patients should receive any support they need to enable them to access healthcare.

Quality Care and Treatment

Healthcare should be based on current clinical guidelines and standards and should be provided in such a way as to avoid any unnecessary harm or injury to the patient. Healthcare providers should consider the range of treatment options available to the patient.

Patient Participation

Patients should be encouraged to take part in decisions about their health and wellbeing, and given any information or support that they need. They should be encouraged to treat healthcare staff with dignity and respect.

Communication

Patients should be communicated with in a way that they can understand and healthcare staff should make sure that the patient has understood the information given.

Patient Feedback

All staff should be able to listen and respond to feedback, comments and concerns appropriately, effectively and efficiently. They should also ensure that complaints are dealt with according to the NHS complaints procedure.

Best Use of Resources

Healthcare staff and patients should make sure that resources are used as efficiently as possible.