Useful Patient Information

Good quality information helps with making choices about lifestyle and self-care, and making decisions about health and well being.

With access to information, patients become empowered to play a greater role in the decisions that affect their health. To help you make informed decisions about your healthcare, this section includes guidance relating to patients’ rights, health and social care policy and how to complain about NHS treatment or services. You can also find information on accessing your health records here.

Health Boards
In Wales, the Health Boards are responsible for planning and providing local health services such as GPs, pharmacies, dentists and certain out-of-hours services.  They are also in charge of hospital and community health services. For more information on Health Boards visit our Health Boards page.

One way of ensuring that people get the right information and make the most of their time during appointments with healthcare providers is to think about what questions to ask beforehand.  Writing down your questions will help you to prepare for the consultation so that you are able to get the information you need and will encourage communication between you and your healthcare provider.

The following links provide advice and information on your rights as a patient and what you can expect from health and social care services now and in the future. 

Patients Association
www.patients-association.org.uk 
Patients rights.

The Health and Social Care Guide for Wales
www.wales.nhs.uk
Provides information on what to expect as a patient and how to access more information about health and social care services.

Welsh Government 
www.wales.nhs.uk
Fundamentals of Care.

British Medical Association (Public and patient information)
www.bma.org.uk

Citizens Advice Bureau
www.adviceguide.org.uk
Provides independent advice on your rights.

Gov UK
www.gov.uk
Provides a wide variety of information on health and well-being.

British Dental Health Foundation
www.dentalhealth.org.uk
Dental patients rights.

Welsh Government
Putting things right - raising a concern about NHS Wales