A relatively new initiative of the Bermuda Hospitals Board, showcased at the 2008 Argus Health Fair, is the Speak Up program, launched in January this year. It is designed to educate hospital patients about their rights and is a part of the hospital's two-year long accreditation efforts involving 25 Patient Safety Officers who encourage recommended organisational practices (ROPs).

"Patients are finally learning that now they have to speak up," explains Lorraine Beasley the hospital's Risk Management Patient Safety Officer. "And that they have a right to be more informed and involved in their own health care."

Examples of patient rights include:

· To be informed about the care you will receive

· Get information about your care in your language

· To make decisions about your care, including refusing care

· To know the names of the caregivers who treat you

· To safe care

· To have your pain treated

· To know when something goes wrong with your care

· To get an up-to-date list of all of your current medicines

· To be listened to

· To be treated with courtesy and respect

· To ask for written information about all of your rights as a patient

Questions that patients are encouraged to ask their doctor include:

· How often will the doctor see you during your stay?

· Who is responsible for your care when the doctor is not available? For example, on weekends and at night?

· What happens to you if life-saving actions are taken?

· If your test or procedure shows that you need another procedure right away, can you get it done here? Or will you need to go to a different facility?

A patient safety hotline also exists for concerns and complaints: 291-SAFE (7233)