Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights (ACHR)
Anyone who participates in or uses the Australian health system is entitled to a series of nation-wide rights. These rights help ensure that whatever the care, or where it is received (within Australia), patients can trust that it will be both high quality and safe. This means that all patients of Studio Smiles Dental have a number of important rights that have been set out by the Australian government. They can be found in the Australian Charter of Health Care Rights.
What is the charter?
The Charter outlines the rights afforded to consumers seeking and/or undergoing a healthcare service. It is relevant to any health setting in Australia, which for our purposes includes dental practices. Its purpose is to help both heath care providers and heath care consumers understand the rights entitled to patients all over the country.
You, as a health care consumer, have a right to:
Access
- Healthcare services and treatment that meets your needs
Safety
- Receive safe and high quality health care that meets national standards
- Be cared for in an environment that is safe and makes you feel safe
Respect
- Be treated as an individual, and with dignity and respect
- Have your culture, identity, beliefs and choices recognised and respected
Partnership
- Ask questions and be involved in open and honest communication
- Make decisions with your healthcare provider, to the extent that you choose and are able to
- Include the people that you want in planning and decision-making
Information
- Clear information about your condition, the possible benefits and risks of different tests and treatments, so you can give your informed consent
- Receive information about services, waiting times and costs
- Be given assistance, when you need it, to help you to understand and use health information
- Access your health information
- Be told if something has gone wrong during your health care, how it happened, how it may affect you and what is being done to make care safe
Privacy
- Have your personal privacy respected
- Have information about you and your health kept secure and confidential
Give Feedback
- Provide feedback or make a complaint without it affecting the way that you are treated
- Have your concerns addressed in a transparent and timely way
- Share your experience and participate to improve the quality of care and health services
If you have a concern or complaint regarding your experience with Studio Smiles Dental please contact our Practice Manager – Tania Sandery by calling the practice number on 08 8255 6100, or by sending an email to info@studiosmilesdental.com.au
Alternatively, complaints can also be communicated to the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner by visiting this link Complain to the provider first | HCSCC. They can also be contacted by calling 1800 232 007 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
For more information on Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights visit this link