Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011

Patient rights

3 Patient rights

(1) It is the right of every patient that the health care received by the patient be as described in subsection (2).

(2) Health care is to—

(a) be patient focused: that is to say, anything done in relation to the patient must take into account the patient’s needs,

(b) have regard to the importance of providing the optimum benefit to the patient’s health and wellbeing,

(c) allow and encourage the patient to participate as fully as possible in decisions relating to the patient’s health and wellbeing,

(d) have regard to the importance of providing such information and support as is necessary to enable the patient to participate in accordance with paragraph (c) and in relation to any related processes, taking all reasonable steps to ensure that the patient is supplied with information and support in a form that is appropriate to the patient’s needs.

(3) It is the right of every patient to give feedback or comments, or raise concerns or complaints about health care received.

(4) The Scottish Ministers, after consulting such persons as they consider appropriate, may by order modify subsection (2).

4 Patient rights: further provision

(1) In construing the right of a patient under section 3(1), the matters set out in subsection (2) below must be taken into account.

(2) The matters are—

(a) the rights of other patients under section 3(1),

(b) the desirability of action delivering health care being proportionate, and otherwise appropriate, to the circumstances of each case,

(c) those specified in section 20(1)(a) and (b).