Your Rights

• Your Rights (61k)

• Consent for your treatment/procedure

Before you can be examined or treated, you will need to give your consent. It is important that you know enough about your treatment/procedure to enable you to make a decision about it. Your care team will discuss your treatment options with you and listen to your views. Sometimes you can simply tell staff whether or not you agree to the treatment offered. At other times a written record of your decision is needed, for example if your treatment involves sedation, a general anaesthetic or has particular risks relating to it. In this instance, you will be offered a copy of your Consent Form to keep.

The Trust has written information about many treatments, which will be offered to you as appropriate. If you are not given any written information, or if there is anything you don’t understand, please speak to a member of your care team. If you do not want any part of your treatment, please tell us. If you have given your consent and later change your mind, you can withdraw it – even after signing the form.

If you do not feel your care and treatment has been adequately explained, please discuss this with a member of your care team.

• Protecting your privacy and dignity

Some Wards accommodate both male and female patients. We will do our best to ensure you are cared for in a single sex bay. Fully segregated washing and toilet facilities are available so that your privacy can be maintained. You should always be offered a private area in which to change and a gown or cover to protect your dignity.

Your right to be cared for in a single sex area may not be possible in some Wards such as Critical Care and Coronary Care where men and women may be nursed together because of the special facilities that are needed.
If you are not happy about your accommodation please inform a member of staff.

• Chaperoning

You have the right, if you wish, to have a chaperone present during any examination, procedure, treatment, or any care. You should always be offered a chaperone if you are having an intimate examination. If a chaperone is not available, please tell staff if you would prefer to wait until one is available. If you prefer a chaperone not to be present, please tell staff.

• Sharing information about you

Your right to confidentiality will always be respected and upheld. Our staff only use or pass on information about you to those with a genuine need for it. Personal details are removed whenever possible so that you cannot be identified. When information about you is shared, those we give the information to have a legal duty to keep it confidential.

You have the right to choose who we give information about your condition and treatment to. Unless you give permission to share information with your relatives, friends and carers, we are unable to do so, particularly by telephone. Please tell us who we can speak to about your care.

When it is not possible to gain your permission, your treatment and condition will only be discussed with one person – either your immediate next of kin or whoever you have identified as your main contact.

• Freedom of Information Act 2000

The Act aims to ensure that public bodies, such as Hospital Trusts, are open in the way they conduct their business. Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Publication Scheme is a complete guide to the information published by the Trust and can be viewed on the hospital’s public website at www.burtonhospital.com. Members of the public may ask for information held by the Trust that is not included in the Publication Scheme by making a written request to the Freedom of Information Department at the hospital address.

• Research Studies

Some Departments are involved in research projects. As a hospital patient you may be asked to participate. You will receive a full explanation so that you can make an informed choice about whether or not you wish to take part. There is no obligation to take part in any research and your decision will always be respected. Your future care will not be affected by your decision.

• Medical students

Sometimes student doctors observe on the wards and clinics. If you would prefer them not to be present during your care or treatment please tell a member of your care team. This will not be a problem or affect your care.

• Blood, body fluid and tissue samples

It may be necessary to take a specimen (blood; body fluid; tissue biopsy) from you as these specimens are used to help in your diagnosis and treatment.

All specimens are dealt with following legal requirements on data protection and NHS guidelines on confidentiality.

• Monitoring your care

Information about your care may be used to help us monitor how well we are looking after you. You cannot be identified from this, as any information about you will be completely anonymous.

• Decisions relating to care

If you have any questions or concerns about any aspect of your care or treatment, please speak to a member of your care team. If you require further information regarding decisions about resuscitation the British Medical Association Booklet Decisions Relating to Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation can be accessed on-line at www.bma.org.uk