The Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill is making its way through the Scottish Parliament and now comments are being asked for from the public. If you would like to comment or need more information see www.scottish.parliament.uk.

Basically the Bill will eventually become an Act of the Parliament that gives rights to patients. That is the right of treatment within 12 weeks (in addition to the 18 week standard National Health Service target). It also provides a Schedule of Health Care Principles, 16 in total.

These include:

1. Anything done in relation to the patient takes into account the patient’s needs.
2. Patients are treated with dignity and respect.
3. Privacy and confidentiality are respected.
4. Health care is provided in a caring and compassionate manner.
5. Support necessary to receive or access health care is available.
6. The patient’s abilities, characteristics and circumstances are considered.

And the one to top all of them….

16. Waste of resources in the provision of health care is avoided.

In the supporting document it states that a healthcare professional will need to listen to a patient’s experience and patients will be encouraged to take their medication regularly. Additionally patients will be told to lose weight and 40 to 50 new jobs (Patient Right’s Officers) will be created along with advocacy all at a cost of £2.6m a year.

The Bill gives you no judicial rights financial or otherwise and therefore lacks the teeth to bite the NHS if they fail to meet their targets . One can only think about principle 16. That is the Scottish Parliament with a bit of thought could use the £2.6m to improve the NHS.