Rights and Responsibilities
Your responsibilities as a Consumer
You have the responsibility to:
Work with your treating team by providing relevant information about your health and circumstances that may influence your treatment or recovery while receiving GSHS services.
Respect and be courteous towards ODH staff and other consumers, including compliance with ODH's policy of not tolerating any form of violence, either verbal or physical.
Assist in the provision of a safe environment for staff and assist staff to provide for you in a safe manner.
Acknowledge the consequences of your decision if declining advice, information or treatment offered by a healthcare worker.
Service Provider responsibilities
As well as the responsibilities set out in the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights, ODH also has a responsibility to:
Enhance and respect your independence and dignity.
Ensure your access to services is decided only on the basis of need and the capacity of the service to meet that need.
Inform you about options for support in relation to services in the community eg. Home and Community Care (HACC) services.
Inform you about your rights and responsibilities in relation to all services.
Recognise the role of carers and be responsive to their need for support, allowing the carer access to information held by ODH about you, where the carer is the legal guardian or has been so authorised you.
Inform you of the standards to expect in relation to services you may receive
Ensure that you continue to receive services agreed with the ODH, taking your changing needs into account.
Provide services to you in a safe manner.
Respect your refusal of a service and to ensure any future attempt by you to access a service is not prejudiced because of that refusal.
Deal with your complaints fairly and promptly and without retribution.
Mediate and attempt to negotiate a solution if conflict arises between the carer and yourself.
Accept your choice and involvement of an advocate to represent your interests.
Take into account your views when planning, managing and evaluating treatment, care and service provision.
Charter of Healthcare Rights
Omeo District Health acts in accordance with the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights for Victoria. This includes people using public and private hospitals, GP clinics, medical specialists, aged care and disability services, mental health services, community health centres and allied health providers such as psychologists, dentists, naturopaths and occupational therapists.
What can I expect from the Australian health system?
| My Rights | What This Means |
|---|---|
| Access I have a right to health care. | I can access services to address my healthcare needs. |
| Safety I have a right to receive safe and high quality care. | I receive safe and high quality health services, provided with professional care, skill and competence. |
| Respect I have a right to be shown respect, dignity and consideration. | The care provided shows respect to me and my culture, beliefs, values and personal characteristics. |
| Communication I have a right to be informed about services, treatment, options and costs in a clear and open way. | I receive open, timely and appropriate communication about my health care in a way I can understand. |
| Participation I have a right to be included in decisions and choices about my care. | I may join in making decisions and choices about my care and about health service planning. |
| Privacy I have a right to privacy and confidentiality of my personal information. | My personal privacy is maintained and proper handling of my personal health and other information is assured. |
| Comment I have a right to comment on my care and to have my concerns addressed. | I can comment on or complain about my care and have my concerns dealt with properly and promptly. |
Further information is available at:
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/patientcharter/ or http://www.safetyandquality.gov.au
