Your rights and responsibilities

 

It is our philosophy to respect your individuality and dignity and to care for you hospitably and compassionately.

St John of God Hospital Geraldton is accredited by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards; an assurance that our environment and practices equal or exceed industry standards and that our caregivers are appropriately qualified and competent.

Open communication

Open communication is a process of communicating with patients who have suffered harm during the delivery of health care. It is a national initiative and is now mandated as part of our hospitals’ accreditation process. Timely sharing of factual information, accompanied by an
‘expression of regret’ is pivotal to the open communication process.

Your rights

Your rights whilst in our Hospital are contained within the Charter of Health Care Rights and include your right to:

• Adequate and timely health care
• Receive safe and high quality care
• Be shown respect, dignity and consideration
• Be informed about services, treatment, options and costs in a clear and open way
• Be included in decisions and choices about your health care
• Privacy and confidentiality of provided information unless the law requires access granted to another authority
• Comment on your care and have your concerns addressed
• To have your ethnic, cultural and religious beliefs and practices respected
• To consent to or refuse treatment at any stage, provided you have the mental capacity to do so, and to receive a full explanation of the consequences

Your responsibilities

• Meet your appointments and tell the facility when you cannot
• Treat your healthcare workers and other patients with respect and courtesy
• Inform us of any physical/psychological conditions which affect you, eg allergies
• Provide your doctor and other health professionals with information such as your medical and family history as required
• Inform us about any other treatment you are receiving or have received, especially if outside the State
• Actively participate in planning, decisions and choices about your care
• Comply with hospital directives e.g. emergency situations and visiting hours
• Let us know if you have any comments about any aspect of your care. You can also talk to the ward’s Nurse Manager, or complete a patient comment card located in your room