Your rights and responsibilities in Murrumbidgee

You have the right to: 

• receive the best available health care in a culturally appropriate way whenever you need it. 
• be treated with courtesy and respect.
• have your privacy and confidentiality respected.
• know who is treating you – their name and their profession.
• have the people of your choice with you and to negotiate the change of a health professional providing services (where possible and appropriate).
• ask for an interpreter if you need one.
• receive clear information about your condition and treatment and about the risks and effects, in a way that you understand.
• ask questions and have time to consider your options and to ask for a second opinion if you wish.
• participate in decision making about your treatment.
• be told of any cost for your care before it is given.
• accept or refuse the health care treatment offered including research or student involvement.
• not have any future service needs affected by your choice to refuse.
• compliment or complain about the service provided.
• have the role of your family in the care of your health recognised and respected, if you so wish.
• see your medical records and have them explained to you.
• be excluded from data reporting requirements (where possible). 
• request not to be referred to a particular service or not to pass on your health information to a particular person or service (this excludes clients who are under a Community Treatment Order or Schedule 2 of the Mental Health Act). 

Your responsibilities are to:

• provide clear and concise information for us to help you ask about your health treatment.
• be considerate of staff and other patients and clients. We will not tolerate any violence, aggressive behaviour or language. 
• respect our health service property.
• let health workers know if you are not going to follow the treatment given and accept responsibility for this decision.
• be sure to attend your appointments and let health workers know if you're unable to attend or are running late for your appointment.
• reschedule appointments if you, your child or any other family members are sick.
• let our health service know if something has gone wrong or if our service can be improved.
• supply exact details concerning you and your health needs.
• not smoke in any of our facilities as they are all smoke free environments. If you need help with this, please contact your local health service.
• make sure your home is safe for health workers to visit; for example, please keep all pets/animals restrained.
• respect health workers rights to privacy outside of work hours.

In some circumstances, it is necessary and important for clients or patients to have a person who will represent their interests in making decisions about their health care.

An advocate is a person you have the right to choose act on your behalf. This person can be a family member, friend, or advocacy service. 

If you choose to have an advocate, you:

• will need to inform your service provider (e.g., Nurse or Doctor) of the person’s name and the limits to which he/she can act on your behalf.
• can change your advocate at any time, but you also must inform the service provider.

If you need help finding a suitable advocate, contact any of the listed agencies:

• NSW Ombudsman
  (including The Community Service Commission)
  1800 451 524
• The Aged Care Rights Service
  (02) 9281 3600 or 1800 424 079

• Council of the Ageing NSW Inc.
  (02) 9286 3860 or 1800 449 102
• Family Advocacy NSW
  (02) 9869 0866 or 1800 620 588
• Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association
  (02) 9891 6400 or 1800 629 072
• People with Disabilities 
  (02) 9319 6622 or 1800 422 015
• NSW Council for Intellectual Disabilities
  (02) 9211 1611 or 1800 424 065

Patients, their families and/or carers who do not speak English as a first language or who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing have the right to free, confidential and professional interpreters when they use public health services.

• Health Care Interpreter Service - 1800 247 272
  This service covers Murrumbidgee and Southern LHDs and includes sign language interpreters for people who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing.  
• Translating and Interpreter Service (TIS) - 13 14 50 
  This service runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 
• The Deaf Society - (02) 9893 8555
  This service works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.