Patient Rights and Responsibilities

As a patient of the NRH, you can expect…

• to receive safe, competent and effective care and treatment on the basis of clinical need.
• to be treated in a respectful and courteous manner at all times.
• to be informed of staff who will be involved in your care.
• to receive information and advice from your doctor and team, before any treatment or procedure begins, that will help you decide about treatment options or procedures available – you may involve your family or other nominated support persons in your decisions.
• to be advised about problems that may occur if treatment is refused.
• to be informed of hospital costs or any payment options for equipment or prostheses.
• to ask questions or give feedback about any aspect of your treatment or clinical procedures and expect a timely response.
• to request an interpreter or translation service if needed.

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At the NRH, you can expect…

• to be in an environment where your care is provided in a sensitive and compassionate way, and equality is central in all that we do.

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You can expect…

• Reasonable privacy during interviews and examinations. Wards and facilities within the hospital are shared environments, however, you may request a private consultation with any member of staff.
• to be assured that your personal information will be treated as strictly confidential.

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You can expect…

• to be involved in making informed decisions about your care and treatment to the extent that you choose. You may involve your family, carers or other nominated support persons in decisions about your treatment.
• to give informed consent, having first discussed the options available to you, before any treatment or procedure begins. The discussion may include expected results, success rate and possible side effects.
• to choose the person you want to make decisions in the event that you cannot express your wishes about your treatment, including situations where there is an ethical concern.
• You may choose whether or not you want to take part in any research or training programme.

Should you need help with decisions you find difficult, such as, the suitability of a particular treatment, the use of certain equipment, or participation in research, please contact your Rehabilitation Consultant.

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• Fully participating in all aspects of your care and treatment (including making informed decisions about your care) to the best of your ability.
• Be open and honest about your health history including level of pain, past illness, hospitalisation, medications (including over-the counter medications) and other matters relating to your health.
• Let us know if you do not understand any aspect of the information we give you. Staff members on your rehabilitation team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
• Follow the treatment plan recommended by your rehabilitation team – you are responsible for any problems that may occur if you refuse treatment or choose not to follow your rehabilitation team’s instructions. If refusal of treatment prevents us from providing care according to ethical and professional standards, we may need to discharge you after giving you reasonable notice.
• Inform the team about any difficulties you may be having involving your care.
• Arrive on time for appointments or scheduled therapies. It is important to inform staff and give reasonable notice if you need to cancel and reschedule an appointment.
• Keep noise on the ward to a minimum and limit the number of visitors you have on the ward at any one time.
• Be considerate of other patients, visitors and hospital staff at all times. Everyone deserves to be treated equally with courtesy, dignity and respect.
• The use of cameras or recording devices (including those on mobile phones, smartphones, computer laptops or tablets or other types of technology) are not permitted within the hospital. This is in line with the hospital’s Data Protection Policy.
• Follow the hospital’s policies and procedures.
• Comment on your care and ask for any concerns you have to be addressed. Your feedback is important to us, it helps us to improve our services.

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The details relating to your unit will be given to you by the nursing staff as part of your introduction to the NRH. Each unit has rules about when patients may leave the unit and where they may go while they are an inpatient – these include the following:

• Always inform a member of the nursing staff before leaving the ward so we always know how to find you.
• Depending on how much assistance you need, a trained person may need to go with you even if you are only going to another part of the building.
• The care of other patients may prevent our staff from going with you at the desired time.
• Approval may be needed for a visitor to escort you if leaving the unit, always check with a member of the nursing staff.
• Some patients may not be allowed to leave the ward for their safety or due to individual circumstances.

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The National Rehabilitation Hospital aims to promote the health and wellbeing of patients by encouraging a healthy lifestyle.

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Having a healthy diet involves making choices about what to eat to improve or maintain good health. This is especially important during rehabilitation. Information and education on healthy eating is available from the Dietician. Healthy Options meals are offered on the menu each day.

Physical activity improves health and well-being. It reduces stress, strengthens the heart and lungs, increases energy levels, helps you maintain and achieve a healthy body weight, and can help to improve your outlook on life.

Routes suitable for wheelchair users and walkers are marked around the hospital grounds. Check with your physiotherapist about their suitability for you.

The sports therapist can provide you with a monitoring card so you can chart your progress.

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The National Rehabilitation Hospital is a non-smoking hospital and, in line with Government Policy, the NRH is a smoke free campus.

We offer support to people to help them give up smoking, this includes:

• Nicotine Replacement Therapy (patches)
• A ‘Smoking Cessation Officer’ is available to offer you advice and counselling on how to give up smoking – please ask a member of your team for information.

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Drinking alcohol is not permitted in the hospital or its grounds.
A specific written policy on alcohol is available on request. A breach of hospital policy will result in a review of the situation in consultation with your team, which may lead to your discharge from the hospital.

Please be aware that alcohol may have associated risks either due to your illness or because of prescribed medications. You are advised to seek advice from your Consultant.

The hospital is committed to supporting patients with a dependency problem through referral to the appropriate treatment services.

Illegal Drug Use Policy

The National Rehabilitation Hospital has a responsibility to report any incidence of illegal substance abuse to An Garda Sióchána.  A written policy on illegal drug use is available on request.

A breach of hospital policy will result in a review of the situation in consultation with your team, which may lead to your discharge from the hospital.

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In the interest of the safety and wellbeing of other patients and staff, anti-social or aggressive behaviour cannot be tolerated.

Any such incidence will result in a review with your Consultant and your team which may lead to your discharge.  A copy of the Anti-Social Behaviour Policy is available on request.

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