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Patients' rights and responsibilities

Last Updated: Thursday, 03 September 2026

Patients rights and responsibilities overview

The relationship between a GP surgery and their patients is based on trust, mutual respect, and open communication.

This partnership between GP surgeries and their patients is crucial for ensuring high-quality medical care and promoting overall health and well-being.

Below are listed some of the key elements that help to support and sustain the important relationship.

Named GP

Confirmation

In accordance with our contract with NHS England, every patient is allocated a named GP

The practice's responsibilities

  • All patients should be given a named GP within 20 days of registration and told so at the next appropriate time.

  • The practice must confirm on their website that every patient has a named GP.

  • If a patient requests a particular GP, reasonable efforts should be made to accommodate their preference.

  • Practices are required to use the code 'patient allocated named accountable general practitioner' in the clinical system.

The responsibilities of a named GP

The named GP is largely a role of oversight. It reassures patients they have one GP who is responsible for their care.

  • Patients do not need to see their named GP when they book an appointment with the practice.
  • Patients are entitled to choose to see any GP or nurse in the practice.
  • The named GP works with relevant health and social care professionals to deliver a multi-disciplinary care package that meets the needs of the patient.
  • The named GP ensures that these patients have access to a health check as set out in section 7.9 of the standard GMS contract.
  • The named GP will not take on 24 hour responsibility for the patient, or have to change their working hours.
Attending your appointments

It is really important that you attend your scheduled appointments at the surgery.

If it is no longer convenient or you decide you no longer need it then please let us know as early as you possibly can. Demand for appointments is very high and, with enough notice, we can usually reallocate your appointment to another patient.

Cancelling appointments with the NHS App

You can cancel any appointment via the NHS app even it was not booked online in the first place.

When a patient misses an appointment it is known as a 'Did Not Attend' (DNA).

If a patient persistently misses appointments with letting us know in advance in can harm the relationship of mutual trust with the practice. We may contact you by phone or letter to discuss this and what we can do together to improve things in the future.

Our full policy for dealing with persistent non-attendance is contained in our DNA policy

Read our attendance policy
You and your general practice

You and your general practice

NHS zero tolerance policy

Zero Tolerance PolicyWe expect to run the surgery so staff and patients are courteous and respectful to each other.

Violent or abusive behaviour undermines the mutually supportive relationship between a patient and everyone at the surgery. It will not be tolerated.

We reserve the right to issue warnings to patients who commit these types of behaviour. This can include us taking steps to have the patient removed from our list, without notice if that is appropriate to protect our staff.

Types of behaviour that are not acceptable at the surgery include:-

  • Foul or abusive language including any language that likely to cause distress to a member of staff or another patient.
  • Physical violence towards any member of or another patient.
  • Racial abuse or any form of harassment
  • Damage to property
  • Obtaining drugs and/or medical services fraudulently
We ask you to treat all of our staff courteously at all times. They have a right to work without fear of violence or abuse.
Read our zero tolerance policy
Digital exclusion

If you have access to the internet and you are comfortable using digital services then the NHS App is the easiest way to interact with the surgery.

We encourage everyone who is able to use digital services to try them out and use them whenever possible.

You can use the app to carry out many of the basic interactions liking ordering medication or cancelling an appointment.

Doing these tasks via the NHS App can save you time and also reduces the amount of adminstration for the practice.

However we will make sure that technology is not a barrier that prevents patients accessing our services. We will always try make it clear how patients can access services without using digital apps.

Equally we will work to make sure the digital apps and our website meets the required standards for accessibility.

Our Approach to Digital Engagement

We encourage all our patients to use the NHS app to interact with the surgery but will make sure thatthose who are unable to use digital apps are not prevented from accessing services.

Opting out of sharing your confidential patient information

Your Health Information and Your Data Choices

Information from your health and care records is used to provide you with safe and effective care.

Information may also be used to help the NHS:

  • plan and improve health and care services
  • improve the treatment and care patients receive
  • carry out health and care research
  • develop new treatments and improve services

All patient information is protected by strict rules around privacy, confidentiality and security.

You have choices about how your confidential patient information is used for research and planning.

There are two different types of opt-out: a Type 1 Opt-out and the National Data Opt-out.

Type 1 Opt-out – information held by your GP practice

A Type 1 Opt-out allows you to prevent your GP practice from sharing information that identifies you for purposes such as research and planning.

If you choose a Type 1 Opt-out, your GP practice will not share your data for research and planning.

However, NHS England may still collect and use information about you from other healthcare providers, such as hospitals.

A Type 1 Opt-out does not prevent your information being shared when it is needed for your individual care and treatment.

For example, your information can still be shared when:

  • you are referred to a hospital or another healthcare provider
  • another healthcare professional is involved in your care
  • information is needed to provide you with treatment or a prescription

Choosing to opt out will not affect the care or treatment you receive.

How to register a Type 1 Opt-out

If you wish to register a Type 1 Opt-out, you need to complete a Type 1 Opt-out form and return it to Ainsdale Medical Centre.

Only your GP practice can process a Type 1 Opt-out.

You can register a Type 1 Opt-out, change your decision or opt back in at any time. There is no deadline for making your choice.

Download the NHS Type 1 Opt-out form

NHS information: Opt out of sharing your health records

National Data Opt-out

The National Data Opt-out is different from a Type 1 Opt-out.

The National Data Opt-out allows you to choose whether your confidential patient information can be used by NHS England and other health and care organisations for purposes such as research and planning.

If you choose to opt out, NHS England and other health and care organisations will not normally share your confidential patient information with other organisations for research and planning.

Your National Data Opt-out choice applies across the health and care system in England.

Your direct care is not affected

Choosing a National Data Opt-out will not affect the care or treatment you receive.

Your confidential patient information will continue to be used when it is needed for your individual care and treatment.

When the National Data Opt-out does not apply

There are some circumstances where your National Data Opt-out may not apply.

This can include:

  • when there is a legal requirement to provide information
  • when you have specifically consented to your information being used, for example as part of a particular research study
  • when there is an overriding public interest
  • when information that could identify you has been removed
  • certain specific situations allowed under national rules

More information is available from the NHS:

NHS – When your choice about sharing data does not apply

How to make a National Data Opt-out choice

You do not need to contact Ainsdale Medical Centre to register a National Data Opt-out.

You can make, check or change your choice using the NHS National Data Opt-out service.

You can:

  • make your choice online
  • view or change your choice through the NHS App
  • contact the NHS National Data Opt-out service by telephone
  • use a paper form if required

You can change your choice at any time and there is no deadline for opting out.

NHS – Make your choice about sharing data from your health records

You can also telephone the National Data Opt-out service on:

0300 303 5678

The telephone service is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays.

Further information

For more information about how your health and care information is used and protected, please visit the following NHS websites:

NHS – Opt out of sharing your health records

NHS – Your NHS Data Matters

NHS – Make your National Data Opt-out choice

NHS – When your choice does not apply

NHS England – Looking after your data

Patient Privacy Notice

Patient Privacy Notice 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion