Patient rights and responsibilities

The NHS Constitution sets out your rights and responsibilities as a patient:

• Convenient and easy access to health services free of charge and within maximum waiting times

• A good quality of care and environment based on best practice

• Not to be discriminated against on the grounds of gender, race, religion and belief, sexual orientation, disability or age

• To receive drugs and treatment as recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for use in the NHS if your doctor feels it is clinically appropriate for you

• Decisions made in a clear and transparent way so you can understand how services are planned and delivered

• To be treated with dignity and respect in accordance with your human rights

• The right to privacy and confidentiality

In return, as an NHS patient, you have the responsibility to:

• Recognise that you can make a significant contribution to your own and your family’s good health and wellbeing and take some personal responsibility for it

• Treat NHS staff and other patients with respect

• Provide accurate information about your health, condition and status

• Keep appointments or cancel in reasonable time so that other patients can benefit from the appointment slot

• Follow the course of treatment which you have agreed with your GP and talk to your doctor if this is difficult

• Give feedback, both positive and negative, about the care you have received.

Practice responsibilities:

Every GP practice has a responsibility to ensure that everyone who needs to use their services can do so. If you have particular difficulties that affect your access to our services please let us know so we can work with you to resolve them.

Date published: 10th October, 2014
Date last updated: 30th November, 2023