The Scottish Government will bring forward legislation to introduce a Patient Rights Bill that will reinforce and strengthen the Government's commitment to place patients at the centre of the NHS in Scotland.
The Patient Rights Bill will be introduced into the Scottish Parliament early 2010.
The Scottish Government wants to see the Scottish people and NHS staff become real partners - co-owners - of the health service so that they can shape a truly responsive National Health Service for the future. This important piece of healthcare legislation will help to ensure that rights and entitlements are more widely understood and used.
Key proposals of the Bill will include:
- A 12 week treatment time guarantee from agreement to treatment to the start of that treatment for day-cases and inpatients
- Patients Rights Officers for NHS Board areas
- Reinforcement of existing rights to make a complaint and strengthening of the support to patients through the complaints process.
- Better clarity about responsibilities for patients - for example, attending agreed appointments and offering feedback on health services