TranslateYour pregnancy healthcare rights
Your pregnancy healthcare rights
Your pregnancy healthcare rights are:
- To receive free public hospital services as a public patient.
- To receive treatment for your health needs, regardless of your financial or health insurance status.
- To have access to public hospital services, regardless of where you live in Australia.
- To be treated with respect, compassion, and privacy in respect to your background, needs and wishes.
- To fully participate in decisions about your care including admission, discharge and continuing care.
- To be given a clear explanation of the proposed treatment including risk and alternatives before you decide whether you will agree to the treatment.
- To seek a second medical opinion.
- To give your informed consent (except in exceptional circumstances) before a procedure is carried out. This includes consent to undergraduate health professional teaching or medical research participation.
- To withdraw your consent or refuse further treatment.
- To have access to information contained in your medical record.
- To expect that information about your hospital care will be confidential unless the law allows otherwise.
- To receive interpreter services if you are having trouble communicating with staff.
- To commend health workers, complain about your healthcare and/or be advised of the procedure for expressing concern about your care.
Your responsibilities
There are a few things that you can do to help health workers provide better care for you. You should:
- provide information that enables healthcare professionals to give you appropriate care and advice
- treat seriously any decision made in partnership with a health professional regarding your treatment
- comply with your prescribed treatment or tell your healthcare professional of your intention not to do so
- conduct yourself in an appropriate way to not interfere with the well-being or rights of other patients or staff.
Patient medical records
- You have the right to ask to see information about you retained by us, in accordance with the Right to Information Act 2009.
- A fee may be incurred if you require copies.
- Confidentiality of your records is required under the Privacy Act 1988.
- Confidential information including treatment details will not be released without your consent (permission).
Open disclosure
- All our hospitals respect this right and are committed to improving the safety and quality of care we deliver.
- We have a policy of open disclosure for when things go wrong with the care we provide.
- Open disclosure assists you if you are unintentionally harmed by their health care.
- For further information visit the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care website.
Our security
- Any behaviour which disrupts our ability to fulfil duty of care to patients will not be tolerated.
- It is also our right to be safe at work.
- Should you, or your visitors, display such behaviour you/they may be asked to leave.
Your safety
- Family violence is a crime.
- Help is available.
- All calls are treated in the strictest of confidence.
- If preferable you do not have to provide your name.
- You can also speak with one of our Social Workers whilst accessing care at any stage.
|
Where to get help |
Phone number |
|---|---|
|
Police Emergency For urgent help or reporting |
000 |
|
Court Support and Liaison Service For victims of family violence to access and understand the legal system |
Freecall 1300 663 773 |
|
Family Violence Response and Referral Line |
Freecall 1800 633 937 |
|
Emergency Shelters 24-hour Services Launceston |
Magnolia Place Women’s Shelter: 03 6344 5322 Karinya Young Women’s Shelter: 03 6331 0774 Yemaya Women’s Support Service: 03 6334 0305 Karinya Young Mums and Bubs Support: 03 6334 8403 |
|
Emergency Shelters 24-hour Services North West |
Warawee Women’s Shelter (women and women with children): 03 6425 1382 Oakleigh House (men, women and families): 03 6431 5791 Burnie Youth Accommodation Services (male and female 13-20 years): 03 6431 9230 Youth Crisis Accommodation Service (male and female 13-20 years): 03 6424 7375 Wyndarra Centre Inc.: 03 6452 1981 West Coast Crisis Accommodation and Referral Service: 03 6471 4748 or 0409 197 031 |
|
Strong Families, Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line |
1800 000 123 |
|
Laurel House Sexual Assault Support Service |
Launceston: 03 6334 2740 Statewide: 1800 697 877 |
How to provide feedback
To provide feedback about your hospital visit, contact the hospital or complete our online feedback form.
|
Hospital |
Email/Form |
Telephone |
|---|---|---|
|
Launceston General Hospital |
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|
Royal Hobart Hospital |
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|
North West Regional Hospital |
Consumer liaison feedback
- If you are worried about any aspect of your hospital experience, please let us know.
- Providing your valuable feedback gives us the opportunity to continually improve our service.
- You can also provide feedback through an in-patient experience survey available at your hospital.
