Patient Rights & Responsibilities

As a health and disability provider, Mercy Hospital complies with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, the Human Rights Act 1993, the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994, and the Code of Health and Disability Consumers Rights 1996.

Patient Rights

The Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights 1996.

The rights of consumers and the duties of providers under this Code are as follows:

1. Right to be treated with respect
2. Right to freedom from discrimination, coercion, harassment, and exploitation
3. Right to dignity and independence
4. Right to services of an appropriate standard
5. Right to effective communication
6. Right to be fully informed
7. Right to make an informed choice and give informed consent
8. Right to support
9. Right in respect of teaching or research
10. Right to complain.  You may make a complaint in any form appropriate to you.

To make comments or suggestions on any aspect of services:

Click here to visit our Patient Feedback / Complaints section of this site.

Alternatively, click here to contact the Patient Feedback staff directly via email.

Do these rights always apply?

Sometimes a provider may not be able to meet all of these rights. Mercy Hospital will always do what is reasonable under given circumstances.

Patient Responsibilities

As a consumer of Health and Disability Services, Mercy Hospital asks that you:

• Take part in the development of an individual care plan with nursing staff to enable your specific needs and cares to be met.
• Provide the necessary information about your previous medical/surgical history to enable safe treatment and care.
• Keep staff informed about any changes in your condition or situation.
• Maintain your own health and function during your hospitalisation, with assistance from nursing staff as necessary.
• Respect the rights, needs, and dignity of other patients in the vicinity.
• Be courteous to staff and respectful of their rights and professional opinion.
• Respect organisational policies, i.e. safety, security, no smoking, individuals' privacy and confidentiality, visiting hours etc.
• Treat hospital property with care and use only for the purpose for which it was designed.
• Follow instructions of staff in the event of an emergency.

Health Information Privacy

Health information is collected for your care and treatment. Your information will be stored securely by Mercy Hospital. Only authorised staff of Mercy Hospital will be able to access your information. Read moreabout:Health Information Privacy