Rights and responsibilities

You have a right to:

  • Access
  • Safety
  • Respect
  • Partnership
  • Information
  • Privacy
  • Give Feedback

As a patient, you have a responsibility to:

  • tell us about your illnesses and hospital visits, symptoms, medications, allergies and other health related matters
  • tell us about any religious or cultural beliefs and requirements
  • treat all people you meet in the health service (staff, volunteers, patients, their families) with care, dignity and consideration
  • ask questions and talk to your family before making any decisions about your health care if relevant
  • follow staff instructions regarding your treatment and care
  • be on time for appointments and let your health service know if you need to cancel or reschedule, and notify us if your contact details change
  • respect the confidentiality and privacy of others.

Patient rights and obligations are governed by the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights (external site).

The Safety and Quality commission has released consumer guides to support consumers to better understand their healthcare rights and what you can expect from the Australian healthcare system.

Patients accessing mental health services

The Mental Health Act 2014 (external site) provides a number of extra rights for patients receiving psychiatric treatment. For more information please contact the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist (external site) on (08) 6553 0000.

Carers

At Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, we recognise that carers play a fundamental role in the delivery of care. 

A carer is defined as someone who provides unpaid ongoing care and support to someone with a chronic illness, mental illness, disability or who is frail and includes providing palliative care.

We support the Western Australian Carers Charter as defined by the Carers Recognition Act 2004, which outlines how carers are to be treated and involved in delivering some services which impact on them.

The Western Australian Carers Charter

  • Carers must be treated with respect and dignity. 
  • The role of carers must be recognised by including carers in the assessment, planning, delivery and review of services that impact on them and the role of carers. 
  • The views and needs of carers must be taken into account along with the views, needs and best interests of people receiving care when decisions are made that impact on carers and the role of carers. 
  • Complaints made by carers in relation to services that impact on them and the role of carers must be given due attention and consideration.

Carers WA is the peak body representing the needs of carers in WA and providing a wide range of support services for carers as well as education to service providers.

We support Carers WA to operate their Prepare to Care Hospital Program at KEMH. A referral can be made on behalf of a carer by email to referral@carerswa.asn.au.

Carers WA can be contacted by phone 1300 227 377, by email to info@carerswa.asn.au or via their website www.carerswa.asn.au (external site).

To find out how we can help you, please talk to the Customer Service Unit staff or one of your clinical team members.

Last Updated: 26/07/2023