Your rights and responsibilities as an informal patient Easy Read ...
Your rights and responsibilities as an informal patient Easy Read ...
Your rights and responsibilities as an informal patient Easy Read ...
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<strong>Your</strong> <strong>rights</strong> <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong><strong>responsibilities</strong><strong>as</strong> <strong>an</strong> <strong>informal</strong><strong>patient</strong>E<strong>as</strong>y <strong>Read</strong> Information
• You are in hospitalbecause you areunwell• When you are unwellyou need help to getbetterMentalHealth Act1983• You are <strong>an</strong> <strong>informal</strong>or voluntary <strong>patient</strong>,you are not detainedunder the MentalHealth Act.2
<strong>Your</strong> <strong>responsibilities</strong>• Being involved inyour treatment pl<strong>an</strong>• Being involved inactivities on the ward• Telling ward staff ifyou have <strong>an</strong>yconcerns3
<strong>Your</strong> <strong>rights</strong>• You have the right toleave the ward.• You have the right torefuse yourtreatment, includingmedication.• If you do pl<strong>an</strong> toleave the ward orrefuse yourtreatment, staffwould like it if youwould talk with themabout your decision.4
DischargeDischargeAgainstMedicalAdviceFormDischarge is when you leave hospital• The doctor will dischargeyou when you are better oryou c<strong>an</strong> discharge yourselfat <strong>an</strong>y time.• If you decide to leavebefore your doctor thinksyou are well enough youwill be <strong>as</strong>ked to sign a‘Discharge AgainstMedical Advice Form’, youdo not have to sign it.• After you have left theward you may be seen bya community team.• <strong>Your</strong> family <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> carersmay need to be told sothey c<strong>an</strong> support you.• You may need to takemedication home with you<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> staff will check if youhave food <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> money.5
Worries about leaving theward• If staff are worried aboutyou leaving they willexplain these concerns toyou.• You have to right to leavethe ward unless the staffhave serious concernsabout you.• Doctors <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> nurses c<strong>an</strong>stop you leaving if theyare concerned aboutharm that may happen toyou or others.MentalHealthAct1983• If staff do stop youleaving the ward they willcarry out a Mental HealthAct Assessment.6
Mental CapacityTo have mental capacityme<strong>an</strong>s being able to makeyour own decisions.MentalCapacityAct2005• If staff think you are havingdifficulties making your owndecisions or if makingdecisions might cause youharm the Mental Capacity Actallows them to act in yourbest interest.• If the Mental Capacity Actapplies to you then staffmay stop you from doingsome things, such <strong>as</strong>leaving the ward or refusingmedication.• You <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>/or your family c<strong>an</strong>talk to staff if you havequestions about mentalcapacity.7
<strong>Your</strong> commentsWe would like to get yourcomments about the serviceyou receive, both good <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>bad. This helps us to makethe service better.If you are unhappy <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> wishto complain about theservice you c<strong>an</strong>:· talk to staff,· talk to your doctor,· talk to your advocate,· write a letter, email or makea telephone call.8
You c<strong>an</strong> also write to:Care Quality Commission(CQC)Care Quality CommissionNational CorrespondenceCitygateGallowgateNewc<strong>as</strong>tle upon TyneNE1 4PATelephone: 03000 616161Email: enquiries@cqc.org.ukYou have a right to meetwith a commissioner.9
Contact UsTo get further help, <strong>as</strong>k questions or makea complaint you c<strong>an</strong> contact the PatientAdvice <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> Liaison Service:Telephone:0800 587 6757 (West Kent <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> Medway)0800 783 9972 (E<strong>as</strong>t Kent)E-mail to: pals@kmpt.nhs.ukKent <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> Medway NHS & Social CarePartnership Trust, 35 Kings HillAvenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, KentME19 4AXPublished: October 2011Ref: KMPT.PI.leaf158This leaflet will be reviewed no more th<strong>an</strong> threeyears after issue.
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