As a patient, client, carer, family member, consumer or visitor of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, you have a number of rights and responsibilities.
You have the right to:
- Access - You have the right to use healthcare services and receive treatment when you need it.
- Safety - You have the right to be cared for in a place that is safe and makes you feel safe.
- Respect - Your health organisation should recognise and respect your culture, identity and beliefs.
- Partnership - Sharing information with your clinician can help you receive care that is right for you.
- Information - Ask for help if you don't understand something. You can bring someone with you to appointments to help you understand information.
- Privacy - Your privacy should be respected in all places, such as hospital wards and waiting rooms.
- Give feedback - You have the right to provide feedback or make a complaint. Your concerns should be addressed openly and within a reasonable time frame. Providing feedback or a complaint should not negatively affect the way you are treated. To find out how to give us feedback ask our staff for a ‘Compliments and Complaints’ brochure or visit the Compliments and Complaints page of our website.
You have the responsibility of:
- Access - Come to your appointment on time and let us know when you cannot make it.
- Safety - Tell us about your medical history, the medications you take and any allergies you may have. If you are unsure about the care you are receiving talk to your health care worker.
- Respect - Be courteous to our staff and other patients. Respect the policies and practices of the facility, such as smoke free zones and zero tolerance to violence.
- Partnership - You can be involved in the decisions made about your care by talking to your healthcare worker and asking questions.
- Information - Be open and honest with us. Please ask questions if you need more information. If you need an interpreter ask the staff to organise one for you.
- Privacy - Respect the privacy and confidentiality of others.
- Give feedback - We would appreciate hearing about when we are doing things well and when we are not. To find out how to give us feedback please ask our staff for a ‘Compliments and Complaints’ brochure or visit the Compliments and Complaints page of our website.