10.10.13
Patients should insist on consumer rights – Healthwatch
Healthwatch has published eight core consumer rights for health and social care in its first parliamentary report.
It highlighted that 94% think health and social care services need improvement and over half of people who have experienced poor care in the last three years didn’t report it because they “didn’t trust the system to act”.
The core rights are the right to: essential services; to access; to a safe, dignified and quality service; to information and education; to choose; to be listened to; to be involved; to live in a healthy environment.
Anna Bradley, chair of Healthwatch England, said: “Whether we are visiting A&E or require meals on wheels, the problem is the same. Few of us know what to expect from our care.
“Just seeing ourselves as having rights changes the game. It gets us thinking differently, asking different types of questions and helps us demand the standard of treatment and care we deserve.
“We all need to stop acting like grateful patients and care users, and start to see ourselves as savvy consumers, insisting on our right to safe, dignified and high quality care.”
Care minister Norman Lamb said: “Without real and meaningful input from patients, it is impossible for health and care services to improve and move forward in the future.
“Whilst we are making great strides to improve care, we know that the NHS and care services are facing increasing pressures. Our priority today is to deliver joined up health and social care to ensure that people receive the best care possible.”
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