Your Rights & Responsibilities

Your Rights
At North Shore Private Hospital you have a right to:

• A quality, personalised health service focused on maximising your health outcomes
• Information on what services are available to you in this hospital
• An interpreter
• A clear explanation of:
  • Your condition, problem or disease
  • Any planned treatment or investigation
  • Any alternative procedures available
  • Possible side effects or after effects, adverse outcomes and any risks involved
  • Information regarding your hospital account regardless of payment source
• Withdraw your consent and refuse treatment to the extent provided by law
• Be treated without bias, regardless of race, creed, sex, national origin, sexual identity or beliefs
• Meet and communicate privately with people of your choice and to send and receive personal mail unopened
• Participate in activities of social, religious and community groups as direction permits unless medically contra-indicated
• Know the identity and professional status of individuals providing care and service to you
• Have the detail of your hospitalisation kept confidential by the hospital and staff except when the law states otherwise
• Privacy whilst undergoing treatment, examination and discussions regarding your care,
• Safety and comfort
• Be informed about the health care system, including the extent of insurance coverage for services, supplementary costs, and the means of referral to other health and social facilities and services in the community
• Access your medical record in accordance with relevant legislation and hospital policy
• A second opinion (however this may be impractical in an emergency situation)
• Resources and support for special needs

Your Responsibilities

• It helps to be informed about your condition and treatment. Please ask questions if you are unsure or do not understand something
• Provide, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about your present condition, past illness, hospitalisation, medication and any other matters relating to your health
• Comply with prescribed treatment or care. If you do not intend to do this, inform your doctor, nurse or therapist.
• Keep follow up appointments or advise those concerned if this is not possible
• Comply with hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct. We encourage you to ask questions of our staff
• Promptly fulfil your financial obligations
• Show consideration and respect for other patients, staff and property of the hospital
• Allow all medication provided by the hospital or bought in by you to be locked in a drawer and dispensed by a nurse

For patients from culturally and linguistically different backgrounds, the North Shore Private Hospital Rights and Responsibilities brochure is available in Italian and Traditional Chinese.

The Private Patient’s Hospital Charter, “Know Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Private Patient in Hospital” is available in hard copy on your ward and in other languages at:
www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-privatehealth-consumers-charter-index.htm