Rights of Patients: FYI

People have natural and legal rights. Specifically, patients are entitled to exercise their rights in the UK. It is necessary know this information. Read and learn from this.

Right to a GP

- Residents of the United Kingdom including European Economic Area or EEA countries  and abroad have the right to register with a General Practitioner. One has the right to choose his own GP. It is important to remember few things in choosing the GP such as the surgery address and contact number, gender of the GP, languages spoken by the chosen GP, any health interests, whether the GP performs minor surgery and other relevant details. There are instances when the GP may refuse a patient. If it happens, it must be reasonable and he must provide a written explanation. Online information is available on how to register with a GP. It is the patient’s right to change GP and there is no need to provide any reason for the decision. Aside from this, patients are permitted to ask for a second opinion. GPs are allowed to remove a patient from the list if the latter is physically or verbally abusive or if he transferred to another place.

Interesting Rights of a Patient

Aside from right to a GP, another equally important right of a patient in the UK is right to hospital treatment.

Right to Hospital treatment

-  GPs should provide medical treatment in emergency situation even if the patient is not registered with him. Care Quality Commission is responsible in handling out-of-hours services. Although the patient can request for a home visit, the GP will only do so if the medical condition requires it. The GP knows if it there is a sense of urgency. However, if the patient’s health condition gets worse because the GP refused to pay a home visit, it entitles the person to file a claim against the medical practitioner. This is a case covered in medicalnegligenceclaims. The GPs provide prescription for a specific condition. They should also provide medicines needed in immediate treatment during emergency. Hospital treatment requires endorsement from the GP. In emergency cases, there is no need for a referral from the GP.

Mistakes can occur during consultation or treatment with the GPs and in Accident and Emergency department of a hospital. Errors such as wrong treatment, incorrect prescription of drugs, misdiagnosis and surgical mistakes are considered negligence. Compensation can be claimed if the healthcare professional committed a malpractice that injures an individual.