As a patient, the Bermuda Hospitals Board expects you to help with your own care and safety and to respect the rights of other patients and staff.

You should:-

1. Give a complete and accurate history of your present complaints, past illnesses, hospital stays, medicines and other health matters. A member of your family should provide this information if you are unable to do so.

2. Conduct yourself according to the Hospital rules.

3. Help keep down noise and excess visitors.

4. Comply with “No Smoking” rules.

5. Abstain from the use of alcohol or drugs not prescribed by your physician and administered by hospital staff.

6. State if you do not understand the part you have to play in the treatment planned for you. Authorise a member of your family to do so if you are unable to properly communicate.

7. Follow instructions of the doctor in charge of your care and cooperate with all hospital personnel. Ask questions if directions and/or procedures are not clearly understood.

8. Report any sudden changes in your health as soon as possible to a member of staff.

9. Accept full responsibility if you refuse treatment or do not follow instructions, if you are a voluntary patient.

10. Respect hospital and other people’s property.

11. Consider the rights of other people.

12. Follow the grievance procedure for patients if you have a complaint about your treatment or care, i.e. Caregiver, Department Head, Ombudsman.

13. Keep appointments and let the hospital know in good time if you cannot make them.

14. Sign the self-discharge form if you want to discharge yourself from the hospital against a doctor’s advice. This process does not apply if you are compulsory detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act, or if you are committed under the order of any lawful jurisdiction.